Stories By Date

Walker won this battle, but is he winning the war?

There's little question that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has won this battle in the war over public sector union collective bargaining rights that is now spreading to other states. Republicans on Thursday outmaneuvered their Democratic opponents, ending three weeks of heated protests and the out-of-state flight of Democratic senators who aimed to avoid a vote on the bill. By eliminating spending language in the bill, however, Republicans were ultimately able to pass it without Democrats present.

But while Walker may have won round one, he's lost a few things in the process. To start, he's left an army of his own employees--state workers--apoplectically angry. Not only have they made concessions over their health insurance and retirement benefits, they've now been stripped of their long-standing rights to collectively bargain.

That may be, as he argues, a necessary change to reform the way government works at a time of major budget and deficit crises. But it also leaves him with a workforce that's likely to be disillusioned and unmotivated, which doesn't help the taxpayer either. Decades of research have shown that committed employees who are engaged in their jobs are far more productive and efficient--in other words, they cost less--than those who are not.

Employee productivity and engagement aren't the only things Walker has given up in his quest against the public sector unions. In the process, he's also reawakened an opponent that had otherwise grown lifeless following the stinging midterm defeats. Mike Tate, leader of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin told The New York Times that the bill's passage led to $360,000 in contributions and a stream of volunteers signing up to help at offices where Democrats were collecting signatures for bids to recall Republican Senators. "From a political perspective," Tate told the Times, "he could not have handed us a bigger gift."

And finally, there is the struggle for public opinion, which even with this win, Walker appears to be losing. Multiplepolls have shown that while Americans favor concessions from unions, stripping away bargaining rights is something they don't agree with. It's hard to know now how much this could affect future elections, but if Walker is viewed by voters to be overreaching, they could reach for his job, too.

Leadership is about trade-offs, and if Walker believes that taking away union members' bargaining rights is the best way to produce the sort of reforms he is seeking, he may be willing to sacrifice these potential downsides. Only time will tell whether the long-term impact of his efforts will outweigh the risks he's likely to suffer in public opinion, in re-energizing his opponent and in the productivity of his workforce. The only thing we know for sure is that this is just the first round in what's likely to be a lengthy fight, and the leaders who focus on that are likely to fare best.

By
Jena McGregor

Comments

Unions Democrat Politicians in a homo relationship. The result is Taxation w/o Representation for rest of Americans. They take our money negotiate with Democrat Politician they funded to get elected and in turn receive greater wage and benefit (tax free) increases again with our money.

This is corruption.

These Union leaders belong in jail as do their Politicians.

Unions should be outlawed in the Pubic Government sector.

Posted by: conrad031 | March 16, 2011 5:30 PM

Dear Jena: Governor Walker is not winning the war. Taxpaying landowners who are sick of over paying government beaurecrats are winning the war. Next question, dearie.

Posted by: darncer | March 15, 2011 5:36 PM

Walker is doing what he wasn't elected to do.
Obama made the same mistake but now has learned to reach-out to his opposition.

Of course time will tell but Walker doesn't appear to be reaching-out. By the time he learns, will he be standing on the wrong side of history?

Posted by: stillAfan1 | March 14, 2011 6:46 PM

Governor Walker won the war and it is over!
The Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature will survive any recall petitions and will eventually win relection, as will the Governor. The action in Wisconsin will spread nationwide as the private sector/non-union taxpayers of America standup and have their voices heard. Goodby SEIU and good riddence!

Posted by: fredtaylor1 | March 14, 2011 11:35 AM

One more thing: What I would like to see is someone take an honest, LARGE sampling of these protesting "workers" and find out the following:

1) How many of them are maxed out on credit cards, and what is the average number of cards they have?
2) How many of them have mortgaged their homes to the hilt, in order to BUY MORE THINGS?
3) How many of them have a car for ever licensed driver?
4) How many nights per week do they eat out instead of cooking in their homes.
5) How many clean their own clothes, instead of using a service; include their homes in that question as well.
6) How many of them have children in private schools.
7) How many of them vacation at least once per year for a week or more.
8) Finally, how many of them hold supervisory positions or greater within the specific company they work for.

The Middle-Class hasn't disappeared so much as it has SHIFTED and no longer includes people, who are NOT a part of a Union. Nor does it include, the thousands of professions out there, who are non-union.

Hey ~ protesters ~ you're NOT HURTING THE RICH ~ you're HURTING YOUR NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET who can't even afford to FEED HER CHILDREN!

PS Ask who foot the bill for your absconded Senators: YOU DID! Ask who's now footing the bill for your destroyed Capitol building: YOU ARE! Can we say, cutting your NOSE OFF to spite your FACE?

Posted by: Reclaimationist | March 14, 2011 11:10 AM

"...they've now been stripped of their long-standing rights to collectively bargain...". Hahahaha, LOL Oh, Ms. McGregor shame, shame on YOU!

As long as people keep mis-reporting the facts, people will continue to be up in arms. Ms. McGregor's calculated choice of words here bespeaks either her ignorance, or her foul intended attempt to fuel the fire.

The FACTS are that only PART of the Collective Bargaining rules were changed. ; and let's get another thing straight, these are only JOB PERKS being defended and NOT, American Rights.

While I'm not surprised at Ms. McGregor's tactics to use only HALF of the facts, what I am surprised at is how ignorant the actual workers are, regarding what their Unions do behind their backs. Further, I'm disgusted to see how many scream, "Me, me give me what I want", when all the Country needs to sacrifice.

When did it become alright to say to another, "Hey, you have TOO MUCH ~ I have a RIGHT to YOUR MONEY!?!?". When did we forget, this Country was established to ensure the INDIVIDUAL's rights and NOT THE CROWD'S!!

The experiment has failed and look what we've raised: A generation that could care LESS about Truth, as long as their pockets are lines with gold.

Finally, let's clear up another twisted falsehood being tossed around: Unions did not BUILD the middle class ~ they DESTROYED it by COLLECTIVELY BARGAINING against what is best for the INDIVIDUAL, claiming what is good for the MANY is good for the ONE.

Really?

You out there, standing on your hands telling us you're on your feet: We SEE you and know full well, one day, your arms will get tired of holding up your lies. You're only fooling yourselves and we who love the Lord, could care less about your self-centered cries. Waa, waa, waa ~ try having three children, two of whom are disabled, being disabled yourself, having no car, losing a home after 15 years and having to depend on others. THEN you can cray, "Waa, waa, waa...", but won't because you'll have learned the TRUE value of life is not in the THINGS you're destroying your Country and State to keep.

THINGS ~ that's all this is about. They want to keep their THINGS and are telling others, "You have no RIGHT to YOUR THINGS".

Maranantha!

Posted by: Reclaimationist | March 14, 2011 10:57 AM

Truth be told, the Democrat Party counts on reliable public and private union PAC contributions, but more than half of the rank and file do not vote for Democrats - what's wrong with this picture? It's extortion and money-laundering, that's what - and unions that have DPAC slush funds should be investigated for federal RICO violations.

Posted by: ddaly7 | March 13, 2011 4:52 PM

What a shame that people had to have their rights taken away from them before they realize that the republicans have always been against the working class.In this article the democrats say they are receiving donations and volunteers now that the people voted against themselves and got a governor who is completely out of touch with the state workers which republicans always are,thats like closing the gate after the horse is already out.Sorry Winconsin but you are getting what you voted for.

Posted by: LDTRPT25 | March 13, 2011 4:29 PM

"unions and librals are pathetic... If you think you deserve getting paid more and entitled to more benefits, then get a different job that pays more and gives more benefits. If you don't work during summer and complain about the pay, then deliver pizzas at night and teach summer school. Ghandi said "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." Stop being greedy people.. Just be glad that you weren't born in a third world country."
---------

Ghandi? Really? You have GOT to be kidding. Which side of this issue do you think he'd be on?

Conservatives are first to complain that government can do nothing right when the quality of community services drop as they're performed by the bottom of the barrel employee willing to work for the lowest wages. The GOP base of voters likes to think they have a good work ethic, and tell themselves that everyone else is lazy. They're the biggest snobs around, and think everyone who isn't them, is unwilling to work if they don't gratefully accept whatever wage barely beats those in third world countries. Hedge fund operators and bank CEOs deserves giant bonuses for tanking the economy, but the nurse who just helped save your life and/or wipe your sorry butt should be happy with the same pay the McDonald's fry cook gets. In reality, conservatives are cheap skinflints who want their trash picked up, their streets plowed in winter and free of crime, and their kids educated—they just don't want to pay a dime for it.

At some point, you cheap bast@rds are going to have to face the fact that there is no level to cut wages and the quality of service to get to your goal of zero taxes. Eventually, you will just have to admit the problem is not simply a spending issue, it's a revenue issue. The wealthy will not pack their bags and move to India if they have to pay 2-3% more personal income tax, or if Bank of America pays anything above the zero tax it currently pays, or if we stop subsidizing oil companies as they make record profits. The revenue has to come from somewhere, and the middle class is all tapped out—that's why they have to pay for groceries with credit cards. It's hard to justify the concept of "American Exceptionalism" while you advocate a race to the bottom.

Posted by: grantmh | March 13, 2011 4:26 PM

A rather one-sided look at the issue. What's missing from the conversation on public employee unions is who stands up and represents the billpayer? When unions buy off the elected officials with campaign contributions, the fox is watching the henhouse and the taxpayers *always* get shorted. Then the unions claim "VICTIM!! VICTIM!!". Why doesn't the press stand up for the taxpayer who doesn't seem to have a voice otherwise?

Posted by: CGSanDiego | March 13, 2011 4:03 PM

unions and librals are pathetic... If you think you deserve getting paid more and entitled to more benefits, then get a different job that pays more and gives more benefits. If you don't work during summer and complain about the pay, then deliver pizzas at night and teach summer school. Ghandi said "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." Stop being greedy people.. Just be glad that you weren't born in a third world country.

Posted by: Timmy14 | March 13, 2011 2:49 PM

Walker is an utter JERK & I loathe him. The unions had already offered MAJOR concessions-- increased contributions to pensions & health care, that amounted to a large pay cut. Walker took a scorched earth policy, opting to take no prisoners. I am VERY angry & wish him all the worst, both personally & professionally. He is scum.

Posted by: cosmiccanine | March 13, 2011 2:29 PM

"... I'm predicting we will see this brushfire elsewhere in the country because labor unions are refusing to negotiate down their benefits and salaries even though it is clear they are bankrupting the system..."

------------

I used to think the Republican party had morphed into a strange club of irrational ideologue extremists, who've decided that telling the most unbelievable lies they can get away with is something to be proud of. Although that's true, I realize they have no monopoly on lying. Their base isn't a group of gullible rubes, who just don't know any better. GOP leaders tell the lies demanded of them by their base. Conservative voters want leaders who excel at maintaining the narrative necessary to their irrational belief system—they lie to themselves as much as the politicians whom they elect lie to them. Surely, the author of the above post has seen in the news (including the article above) that WI public unions gave Walker all the financial concessions he asked for. The only reason for his behavior and the rash of Republican governors who follow suit, is to punish people who generally don't vote for Republicans, not for anything related to budgets or the economy. The only way someone can make a claim like the one in the post above, is because that person only processes the news selectively with a mind that functions like a child, or said person is happy to climb aboard the juggernaut-lie machine that drives what has become an amoral political party.

Posted by: grantmh | March 13, 2011 2:17 PM

They are trying to destroy you. How can you be a SUPPOSED intelligent person and have missed the hatred for teachers in the Repukeliscum Party? They are going to eliminate tenure, dummy, and when they do, anyone making too much money (oh, say, 35K) will be, amazingly, found to be a poor teacher, and their one-year contract will not be renewed.
WAKE UP, YOU MORON!! A vote for the Repukeliscum Party by a teacher is a vote to END YOUR OWN JOB!!
Posted by: snortz_the
===========================================

This type of post is becoming the norm when dealing with opposing views by the left. If you don't agree with them, you're full of "hatred", are a moron, ignorant and stupid. I guess the call for civility was meant only to silence conservatives and the left can continue their venom.

This poster doesn't deserve a decent reply, but I'll try to be as civil as possible.

The unions and the left have labled the WI bill an attack on teachers. It is not. There are other public service employees involved in this issue. In the non-union arena, if you are not doing your job effectively, you are removed and replaced by an employee who is willing to accomplish the job. In the union sector, if you are not doing your job effectively and an attempt is made to remove you from that job, you contact the union reps and the employer is called on the carpet for a discriminatory issue.

It is the same with teachers. If budget cuts and lay offs are required, mediocre to bad teachers with tenure are allowed to keep their jobs while great teachers without tenure are layed off. This is what unions have done. We have some fabulous teachers, but also have some that should never have gone into the profession but are allowed to stay in the system because of their union status.

Posted by: bethg1841 | March 13, 2011 1:56 PM

rickshawjim wrote " This is "The Scott heard around the world"; The revolution against the tyranny of the socialist left has begun. Union elitists have been preying upon the taxpayers of Wisconsin for decades, all the while dumbing down
the rank and file, buying their blind allegiance and getting them to betray
the basic principles upon which their country was founded, all for a few
pounds of silver. Useful idiots indeed.
-----------------------------

The above writer obviously knows very little about unions, about Government, or about tyranny.

But, The GOP is very good about forgetting what Freedom is, and the useful idiots that blindly support them, raised on a steady diet of Limbaugh Beck and Malkin are rapidly alienating the rest of voting Americans.

Posted by: maxtor0 | March 13, 2011 1:46 PM

It never ceases to amaze me how many people think that Union "bosses" are so rich. They're not. They make much less than the politicians who keep giving themselves raises every year at the taxpayers expense. Collective bargaining is every person's right, and if you think this doesn't affect you because you're Republican or not in a union, you are seriously mistaken!

You can thank the unions for your weekends! And most union members work on Saturday and Sunday which is the only reason they can go out during the week to protest and march. If you had any intellegence, you would be fighting Gov Walker and all the people who are trying to bust the unions.

Unions MADE the middle class. You want to loose it, keep voting for tea-baggers like Walker. You'll get your wish, and a smaller paycheck, no weekends, and no raises. EVER!

Posted by: laurajayne | March 13, 2011 1:45 PM

Patriot12
Wrote "Once again (see below link), Obama and Holder violate the rule of law and natiojnal security and put our nation at risk from within. The liberals are not just trying to bankrupt the nation for sake of filty rich corrupt Union bosses....they're out to destroy us so sake of PC B S.
http://abc.daytonsnewssource.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wkef_vid_6103.shtml"
--------------------------------
Spoken like a true "patriot" -of 1939 Germany.

The GOP has become the party of NO RIGHTS.

NO right to vote -unless you vote GOP.

No Right to have an Abortion.

No right to donate as a group -unless you are a corporation, or are donating to the GOP.

No right to Unionize, or have collective bargaining -Unless you agree to GOP demands.

No right to privacy -unless you belong to the GOP elite leadership.

Almost every bill passed by the GOP in the last 50 years adds restrictions to just about everything pertaining to those who work for a living, restricting rights, renaming rights to "privileges".

And lets discuss criminal endeavors by Republican Presidents.

Nixon - Lied about Watergate -cover-up -resigned -No Punishment.

Reagan -lied about Iran-Contra -No Punishment.

Cheney and Bush - Lied about WMD in Iraq, killing thousands of Americans, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Lied about the Valerie Plame affair -outing an active CIA agent - No punishment.

I guess laws are only for Democrats and "little people" - Just like taxes.

The leadership of the GOP brought about not one, but two major economic collapses in less than 100 years, destroying much of the middleclass' financial future, and all their stooges in wall street walked away much rich, with obscene bonuses, taxed at rates far below what a working man's income is taxed at, bailed out by a GOP bill signed into law by Bush, and no punishment was ever meted out -only Bernie Madoff running a ponzi scheme ever too any flack.

There's a warm seat reserved for them and the people who enable them in a very hot climate.

Posted by: maxtor0 | March 13, 2011 1:36 PM

Walker has won the battle, but he has alienated unions, and workers. I think that this will backfire on him and the GOP in the next election. He did help Obama out, because up until now, Obama has been foundering.

Posted by: sanfordflg | March 13, 2011 1:34 PM

I am always amazed at the comments posted here. Vilify each other. In fact both democrats and republicans live here. Consequently both want the Nation to prosper. If we go on that premise it is most likely we can find common ground.

So on that note, now I will attack republican statements. First, Clinton ran a surplus. This surplus was decimated by the tax cuts that increased to their maximum the year Bush left. Those cuts not only eliminate a surplus, they exacerbated the deficit. Had the cuts not occurred we would have been running a surplus of .3 trillion going into this recession.

In addition, automatic stablizers, like unemployment, etc. kick in when recessions occur. That increased the deficit.

On top of that, obviously, income taxes fell, contributing to the deficit.

The Obama passed a .7 trillion stimulus package. Since the deficit is 1.4 trillion, that means roughly 1 trillion is due to other factors.

The stimulus is set to expire this year. That leaves a structual deficit of .4 trillion a year. If taxes cuts were eliminated, Federal revenues would rise about .3 trillion. This leaves another .1 trillion. If taxes where actually raised on the rich to 50% then there would be no deficit.

The republicans like to say we do not need these programs because of waste and fraud. Hmmm. Pick a program, any program, show me the waste and fraud. I am sure you will come up with big numbers, like 100,000,000 dollars. or .001 trillion. That is proportionally a very small part. Most business face equal or greater fraud. Futher, I want to see how many scream about specific cuts like getting rid of grain price supports. Why do we support prices in the most efficient market? Since the midwest and south don't like government lets let them compete.

Posted by: sarlat | March 13, 2011 1:29 PM

It's all over. He won. The legislation passed and now is law in Wisconsin. I'm predicting we will see this brushfire elsewhere in the country because labor unions are refusing to negotiate down their benefits and salaries even though it is clear they are bankrupting the system. I am sick and tired of these fights.

Posted by: edwardallen54 | March 13, 2011 1:24 PM

Once again (see below link), Obama and Holder violate the rule of law and natiojnal security and put our nation at risk from within. The liberals are not just trying to bankrupt the nation for sake of filty rich corrupt Union bosses....they're out to destroy us so sake of PC B S.

Obama’s Approval Ratings Among Independents Down to 37%, Tanks 10 Points in One Month
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/50954.html
Reuters Poll: 64% Say America on Wrong Track, Highest Number Since Obama Took Office
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/09/us-obama-poll-idUSTRE7284SZ20110309
Shellacking part 2.0 in 2012.
Out of touch with reality Dems, once again supporting the wrong cause at the wrong time.

Posted by: rickshawjim | March 13, 2011 12:57 PM

Gallop poll 3/09/11

Of seven possible ways to balance their own state's budget, Americans are most likely to favor cutting back on state programs (65%) and reducing the number of state workers (62%). Floating more bonds (30%) and raising state income or sales taxes (33%) garner the least support, followed by raising business taxes (39%).

Keep fighting the good fight - and that is for America not for the unions who are tearing it down. The people who have the most time to demonstrate? Dems and union workers - who are paid by our tax dollars to do so. All other working Americans have to wait for the weekend to voice their opinion so publically.
Shameful.

Posted by: Lynne51 | March 13, 2011 12:48 PM

I hear that the Democrats are considering changing their emblem from a Donkey to a condom because a condom stands for inflation, halts production, discourages cooperation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives one a sense of security while screwing others!!!!!

Posted by: rickshawjim | March 13, 2011 12:41 PM

Lawmakers skipping parade after death threats.
Hopper, Thiesfeldt, talked to Fond du Lac police about death threats against Republicans and St. Patrick day parade.
Google it.
These public servants really think they own the state. I hope the rest of the liberal politicans get blown out of the water in the next election. People are just simply tired of the union gangs and the liberals having their way at the expense of the tax payers.
It's pretty bad when you a 70,000 protesters and the hardest working ( and most intelligent) one there is a donkey. And everybody knows it will ony work when you spank it with a stick!

Posted by: rickshawjim | March 13, 2011 12:39 PM

unions are sociopathic and so are their members.their greed knows no bounds and they are willing to do practically anything to hold on to their power. here we have protesters being bussed in from out of state to make their crowd of vigilantes look larger than it is. this isn't about state workers,this is about unions nation wide and the stranglehold they have on this government. the protesters shout koch,koch,koch! this is to divert attention from the union bosses that really control everyone including the president with their overwhelming political voting power.they always find a straw man to demonize and this battle includes their new devils,the koch bros. to go along with the old standby,"corporations". as usual,plenty of conspiracy theories are thrown in from no known news source but the rumors spread. illogical rumors like "you would have more if others didn't have so much"; are some of the prime lies they spread. find an economics professor to back that absurd claim. all labor unions are poison and should be dismantled.

Posted by: rickshawjim | March 13, 2011 12:34 PM

This is "The Scott heard around the world"; The revolution against the
tyranny of the socialist left has begun. Union elitists have been preying
upon the taxpayers of Wisconsin for decades, all the while dumbing down
the rank and file, buying their blind allegiance and getting them to betray
the basic principles upon which their country was founded, all for a few
pounds of silver. Useful idiots indeed.

Posted by: rickshawjim | March 13, 2011 12:29 PM

At Obama's news conference the media did not pose a question regarding the recent turmoil in Wisconsin. Obama himself did not even make a statement regarding the assinine behavoir of Liberals and Union members during the past 2 weeks in Wisconsin. Strange!!!!

Posted by: petethegreek35 | March 13, 2011 12:29 PM

This is typical of the type of “Cannibal Capitalism” going on in this country. They are systematically striping the middle class of wealth and rights. Between the foreclosures, the tax code that favors the wealthy and now the union busting the little guy who has nothing. The crazy thing is how many of the “Walkers” out there who were elected by people who standard of life was created by collective bargaining rights.

Posted by: hill_michael@hotmail.com | March 13, 2011 12:09 PM

This is typical of the type of “Cannibal Capitalism” going on in this country. They are systematically striping the middle class of wealth and rights. Between the foreclosures, the tax code that favors the wealthy and now the union busting the little guy who has nothing. The crazy thing is how many of the “Walkers” out there who were elected by people who standard of life was created by collective bargaining rights.

Posted by: hill_michael@hotmail.com | March 13, 2011 12:08 PM

Regarding the erosion of union power.

With the horrid Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and wealthy special interests to (basically) run public elections with their money and influence, the erosion of union power represents a serious threat to any attempt at a counterbalance.

I'm not overly in love with unions, but competition and having a contrarian voice is good for everyone.

Posted by: hoo-boy | March 13, 2011 12:07 PM

A while back I worked for the Department of Social Services in a New York county. My job was to review income, residence, and other information for Medicaid programs. Sometimes a little extra effort would uncover less than fully forthcoming applicants, especially when the benefit's value such as nursing home coverage was at stake. I know if I worked for social services in Wisconsin my efforts to verify income and other eligibility requirements for public assistance would be reduced significantly. Why should I care about the state if the state does not care about me? Those Repubs think they are so smart and will save so much by beating down on workers. There are so many ways low level state workers can make a significant difference to state and county budgets.

By the way, thanks for adding the preview feature to the comments. It wasn't available the last time I commented on on issue.

Posted by: gtjordak | March 13, 2011 12:06 PM

The real problem here is that these funding & debt issues were created by self-serving politicians of both parties seeking to obtain favor from government workers with sweetheart deals.

This same set of goof balls sought public favor by not funding their promises to help keep taxes low and to allow funding for other pork barrel projects.

Nice to have it both ways and kick the can down the road to the next goof ball. It's nothing more than a game of hot potato where the perpetrator of the problem never loses.

Posted by: hoo-boy | March 13, 2011 11:59 AM

Communists figured out in the 60's that they could not defeat the USA military. They set about to gain control of the media and education establishments. This is now a "fait accompli."
Is there any alternative to this totalitarian, soul-destroying apparatus of leftist-controlled public education? Sure: privatize education completely. Abolish public property taxes that fund the current madness. Create systems of competing and overlapping education by letting out contracts to private vendors to teach our children. Allow these vendors to be as creative and informal as they wish, and the private free market will eventually starve the collective beast.
Education should evolve as technology and society evolves; for example, we're still stuck in a 19th Century mindset where students need the summer off to help with harvests.

Posted by: ddaly7 | March 13, 2011 11:44 AM

What many posters fail to realize is that the problem with public union employees (teachers, firemen, police, public works, etc.) is that their benefits are underfunded and unsustainable. Those of us in the private sector are not going to stand by and subsidize the pensions, COLAS, and other benefits of public union employees. It is time for you to pay your own way. You will see that this is true in the coming elections.

Posted by: dweezil22 | March 13, 2011 11:22 AM

Has anybody seen the bridge? Where's the confounded bridge? I mean the one the trolls came out of. Wherever you were when you said those big words. It may have been that one. Apoplecticity!

While we're on the subject of redundancy -- you know, human or verbal -- you've been called out for the redundancy of "apoplectically angry." Personally I like gradations of anger -- just a little warm feeling is easy to maintain! But if modifying "anger" in some way is redundant -- well, it's all anger, isn't it!?? More than one word about it gilds the lilly. Or guilds it. We are in a terse age, with no need for extra words that for all we know are leaning on shovels watching the other words dig. If you draw a trend line, it all comes down to one plain, simple thing.

Asymptoticity.

On the other hand, perhaps, just perhaps, all anger is apoplecticity. It's just a littler version of it. It could *all* be apoplecticity for all we know. I like gradations of apoplecticity.

You see, if the world really is all one thing, then you don't need different words for capitalism and communism, or anything else really -- it's all the same thing after all. Company town? Collective farm? Curiously similar. The trouble is, if it's all the same thing, I'm worried that it's going to one really big word to say it. That will bring out the apoplecticity. We've already got Lord Brynner, the Jamaican guy with the father whose name he can't even pronounce, "because it was so long, if I had to say his name, I might have to bite off me tongue."

If it's all one thing, then, we're *all* redundant, and *that's* a tautology. But teach a man to fish, and he'll be hauling in tautologies all day. That's trouble. That's apoplecticity.

The unions will wise up or they will dry up. When we dry up, we can salt them and keep dried unions in Ziploc for the day when our scrip doesn't pay the bills in our company town. "It's all good," remember, so don't gripe! That's because *it is all one thing.* (And that's a tautog.)

Which thing it will be, of course, has not yet been finally decided. It seems to me though that it's either going to be a little group of billionaires, or it's going to be the rest of us. If Walker has won his war, take care to notice what he's defeated. It really is all one thing!

We are all Lord Brynner now.

Now bite me tongue.

V1

Posted by: Virtualist1 | March 13, 2011 11:17 AM

stevet168: You are not a life-long Repukeliscum, you are a life-long idiot. ANYONE who is a teacher and also a Repukeliscum is an idiot. Repukeliscum hate teachers. They are trying to destroy you. How can you be a SUPPOSED intelligent person and have missed the hatred for teachers in the Repukeliscum Party? They are going to eliminate tenure, dummy, and when they do, anyone making too much money (oh, say, 35K) will be, amazingly, found to be a poor teacher, and their one-year contract will not be renewed.

WAKE UP, YOU MORON!! A vote for the Repukeliscum Party by a teacher is a vote to END YOUR OWN JOB!!

Posted by: snortz_the_cat | March 13, 2011 11:11 AM

Please, let us again learn from the tragic Congresswoman Giffords event that "war" and "battle" and "shot" etc. are not only inappropriate descriptives but hardly accurate to describe debate and discourse regarding intellectual and political disagreement. Surely "war" and "battle" did not literally occur in Madison, strong disagreement and protest, yes. Mind the difference. The media must lead and not do what their own opinionaters say is indeed inappropriate.

Posted by: JohnRaudabaugh | March 13, 2011 11:08 AM

I just am continually amazed when I read the phrase "republican teacher". That's amazing, because Repukeliscum have hated teachers for the last 30 years. How can ANY supposedly smart teacher vote Repukeliscum? Obviously, they are not very smart after all. Most of those self-hating repukeliscum teachers are now figgering it out - a vote for a Repukeliscum is like taking $1000 out of your middle-class teacher pocket and lighting it on fire.

Repukeliscum are going to destroy tenure, and as such, no teacher will make a middle class salary any more.

Posted by: snortz_the_cat | March 13, 2011 11:03 AM

The president of these United States said a few months ago that the republicans are "the enemy"....Well, I would guess that there are less democrats than a combined republican and independent voting majority today...the president and the senate hold the majority in congress today. The result of a misguided voting electorate in 2008. It seems to me that the president and the democrats are in the pockets of the big union bosses.
The union protests of yesterday (Saturday) are not a victory for the unions. I would define their actions as a blow to democracy!
The losers are the taxpayers and homeowners.
Do you rent an apartment or own a home?
An increase in taxes which WILL happen will affect low income wage earners as well as the "average" income earner, (somebody earning 40k to 50k per year.) Do you really think that the owner of an apartment complex is going to absorb the cost of increased property and educational taxes?
Guess again! The losers here are anyone renting or owning property!

Posted by: SeniorVet | March 13, 2011 10:55 AM

I suppose we should thank Walker. This may be the event that wakes up the middle class and poor to the horrible damage inflicted on them by the GOP and Corp Dems from bad trade deals, to deregulation, to laughable tax policy that faors the rich to corp welfare that has contributed to the biggest income gap since the robber-barron era.
Bye-Bye GOP!!!

Posted by: dwdave67 | March 13, 2011 10:55 AM

iceage94 wrote
"War is often a convenient metaphor"

Perhaps rebels, terrorists can be add as a convenient metaphor also.

Posted by: atrium1 | March 13, 2011 10:52 AM

War is often a convenient metaphor. However, it is perhaps not wise for the media to continually frame these debates as war. Culture war, etc. In war, there is no room for negotiation - it is a winner take all scenario. Democracy CANNOT FUNCTION when that is the mindset.

Part of the tradeoff of being in a healthy democracy is your position/outlook/side NEVER gets its way entirely. You're always going to be angry that you had to concede something. That's the way it SHOULD be. Why should your view of things force your neighbors to give up everything they want for their happiness?

The media need to start framing a narrative that is more conducive to healthy debate and REAL COMPROMISE. How long can a society survive where individuals view themselves as part of a faction pitted against an enemy?

To employ a different metaphor, we are all on the same ship. Is getting your way so important that you're willing to sink it?

Posted by: iceage94 | March 13, 2011 10:35 AM

Walker has won today but he won't win tomorrow. The systematic elimination of the middle class has been exposed, not only in Wisconsin, but also in other states.
The middle class working people have realized that they have been exploited for the benefit of the rich and powerful. They are being made to pay in more ways than one for the well-connected wealthy; the wealthy who made their fortunes on the labors of the middle class.
When the tax cuts were debated, $250K/year was "middle class" -- when wages and benefits are discussed, $50K/year is "overpaid." How does that compute?

Posted by: mhandrh | March 13, 2011 10:33 AM

First a compliment for MS Jenna McGregor. She manages to espouse causes with much better prose then that used by Goebbels in Germany while one of her ancestors fought for liberty that allows her to write what she feels.

Second goes to the American citizens, your government cannot print the greenbacks and try to survive. As a matter of interest if it wasn't for the countries you owe, I would assume, the shirt you are wearing, you would have gone already down the drain. Those countries you owe all that money your government irresponsibly is borrowing from once they decide it is worthless to continue supplying you with money you will never be able to pay back and decide to bankrupt you, you will go down like all empires.

I am afraid it is yes to late for people like Walker to save you by stopping the unreal world you are living in.

Posted by: demec | March 13, 2011 10:11 AM

For a number of years I have been convinced that this nation was heading for another "'60s Moment". As an activist in the '60s and since, it has been both surprising and disappointing to me that one insult on the democracy after another has virtually gone unanswered. Yet I always believed that it was inevitable that this nation would regain its dignity. 30 years is a long binge from sobriety and vigilance.
It really took two events to rattle the alarm and finally awaken. The first was the response to the egregiousness of the Reagan to Bush-Cheney debacles resulting in the election of a black American. It is my take that the reason so much vile is hurled at this President and his decency is a reaction to more than race: it is the threat that it poses to all the hopes of of the forces of Greed and Power to finally quashing the progressive gains of the 20th century.
The second event(s) is the democracy movements in the Middle East. Given our addiction to a lifestyle based on oil we abetted the oil dealers of the area -- to our shame.
To us Tunisia and Egypt are statements that what made us the nation we became -- the bedrock on which we proclaim freedom and justice -- are also the prophet in our midst proclaiming to us that we have if not lost our moral compass, then we have so ingested our situation that it is time for detox of the addictive fuel of the Right dealers of greed.
While scary, it is a time for jubilation -- the witch and the dodo behind the curtain are exposed. (Maybe) free at last, free at last...

Posted by: skat6 | March 13, 2011 9:56 AM

"apoplectically angry"? Come on. Are you trying to impress someone by using long words and redundant phrases. Try writing to readers and you will find your audience has increased. I don’t mean to write “down” to anyone, I just mean to use words that are readily understandable.

Posted by: MayorEd | March 13, 2011 9:45 AM

Unions may have played a minor role 60 or more years ago in causing trouble for American "heroes" who run major American businesses. But that is well into the past. Today we have patriotic, freedom loving, liberty craving upper class twits who sit in corner offices and spin webs of deceit that end up costing U.S. taxpayers hundreds of billions if not trillions, their jobs, their families, and their possessions. The upper class has declared war on the rest of us. We may be heading for the analog of the French Revolution right here in America. Imagine the heads of heads of AIG and J.P. Morgan dropping into wicker baskets.

Posted by: BlueTwo1 | March 13, 2011 9:36 AM

Yes, Walker - and America - is winning the war. We all can imagine the howls and instant deployment of federal forces had the tea party ever acted in the deplorable and illegal manner of the union goons.

Death threats against politicians? Occupying government buildings? Open threats of violence against businesses?

This is a war - and it will be won.

Posted by: VirginiaConservative | March 13, 2011 9:27 AM

War? Battle? After the AZ shooting you use this language?

Posted by: yokosuka1985 | March 13, 2011 9:23 AM

This column of yours aims to discuss Leadership. And, it does so very well.

Governor Walker does not understand that true leaders proceed cautiously in the exercise of power. Just because one (Walker and Republican legislators) MAY HAVE the power to make changes and destroy collective bargaining for public employees, does not mean that they SHOULD USE IT. This arrogance will not and has not gone unnoticed by men and women of more temperate moods.

Political leaders such as Nixon and Joe McCarthy eventually pay a political price for their flawed use of power.

Posted by: jsettich | March 13, 2011 8:35 AM

I'm a 14 year veteran teacher and life-long Republican. For over a decade, I was the guy at social gatherings who answered the career question with, "I'm a teacher." I held my head high despite making less money than most at every gathering and listening to my friends express delight about huge bonuses during the economic boom. I've always been proud of my profession, frugal with my limited paycheck, and grateful to have a rewarding career.

Now the economy has turned south and teachers, police and firefighters have become the scapegoat for State Debt. Are you serious? Let's take a look at the investments on Wall Street and the greed that led to all this. Sadly, the people that caused this are not being held accountable. Rather, it's those of us who've for years been at the bottom of the $ chain. Now, just because we have a decent job, and Wall Street and banks can't be held accountable we're on the defensive and being attacked.

I watched a recent Fox news clip about how Catholic school students test higher than Public school students and spend less $ for each student. They failed to mention that to get into Catholic school you need to apply and qualify both academically and financially. They can turn down any student who doesn't meet academic or behavioral standards. Public school teachers must accept and teach any student who enters their classroom regardless of how literate or not they might be. We have to teach the kids whose parents have never read to them and go home to take care of their little brothers and sisters, sometimes making dinner instead of doing homework so Mom and Dad, or maybe just one parent can work to pay rent.

Let's have sensible discussions, intelligent cuts in spending, and give teachers, most of whom perform fantastically every day, some more respect. I'm a registered Republican, but simpletons like the Gov. of Wisconsin will not get my vote. As the article mentions, most people disagree with the decision of this narrow-sighted and inexperienced Gov. to take away collective bargaining. He and his colleagues will be voted out by people like me, who've historically voted Republican. They've gone too far.

Posted by: stevet168 | March 13, 2011 8:20 AM

I guess the author hopes that this is all true, but I doubt it. Despite all the talk about the rich, there are many more taxpayers that benefit here than Union members.

Union members have always voted overwhelmingly for Democrats so I don't see much difference in the future there.

Posted by: scott3 | March 13, 2011 6:46 AM

Gov. Walker was ordered to end the Unions and get the people to follow the Koch Tea Party. He and his fellow Republicans had no choice. This invasion is happening in every State that the Koch Bros. paid the candidate. Before Unions, workers had no rights and we had child labor. Reducing education would allow us to see more of the Boehners, Bachmann, Rand Paul, Rev. Hucukabee, Sarah Palin and others who clearly have no brains or interest in serving the American people or the country. The recall for 8 Republican State Wisconsin law makers has already started and by the summer millions would have signed for the recall of the Governor on January 1st. A bigger problem is the image of the Republican and Koch Tea Party is damage and might be beyond repair in the 2012 elections. Jesus said Satan will give you what you ask for, but never tells you at what cost. Walker and his fellow Republican/Koch Tea Party should have read the bible first.

Posted by: qqbDEyZW | March 13, 2011 5:25 AM

Come 2012, Walker is going to be the subject of a recall vote, and he's going to get tossed out of office.

Posted by: pjkiger1 | March 13, 2011 3:36 AM

Eventually, most of the people in Wisconsin and this country will realize that the Republicans do not represent them. Crushing the union after they agreed to accept cuts is the type of thing that will convince most people. Despite the big lie approach, it can't help but dawn on the majority of us that a tiny minority controls the wealth of this country now and the Republicans serve their interests. When the next elections occur, people are likely to stop voting against their own interests. At that point, the tax rates for the wealthy will return to their earlier levels and we will suddenly have money for education, the environment, roads, etc. It's a miracle called doing the math and being fair.

Posted by: jlkreutzer | March 13, 2011 1:26 AM

Many american people have lost their view of reality and common sense..We want to hire teachers now at the lowest possible
rate...But applaud million dollar contracts
for jocks who can throw a football or shoot a basketball...Teachers are the ones who are teaching your children and young adults to prepare for the future and take our country into the next century..Not sports jocks..We seem to have a distorted
view of whats important in our country today and the effects are starting to show up in society today.

Posted by: danhuffstat | March 13, 2011 1:15 AM

Many american people have lost their view of reality and common sense..We want to hire teachers now at the lowest possible
rate...But applaud million dollar contracts
for jocks who can throw a football or shoot a basketball...Teachers are the ones who are teaching your children and young adults to prepare for the future and take our country into the next century..Not sports jocks..We seem to have a distorted
view of whats important in our country today and the effects are starting to show up in society today.

Posted by: danhuffstat | March 13, 2011 1:14 AM

The top 1% owns 43% of the wealth; the next 4% owns 29% of the wealth. THE BOTTOM 80% SHARE ONLY 7% OF THE FINANCIAL WEALTH.

That's insane!

Walker and other republicans are pitting workers in that 80% against each other in his union v. private sector fight. The real fight is between American workers and giant corporations and their officers.

When I quote the wealth distribution figures to people, they don't believe me. When I prove it to them, they are shocked.

We need to get this information out, and since the media isn't going to do it, we have to do it ourselves.

Posted by: DonnaMariaInChicago | March 13, 2011 1:13 AM

Republicans are the brown-shirted servants of the corporations - they care nothing about worker's rights - or even the workers themselves. Never have we seen such abuse of power as the Wisc. Republicans exercised. We all know that the Republicans are merely making corporate profits soar. The Republicans in Wisconsin seem like sociopaths with no conscience.

The Koch brothers can now buy Wisc. public utilities for pennies on the dollar, raise the cost of those utilities and sell them back to Wisc. residents at those higher costs. Why? Because the Koch brothers handmaiden, Gov. Walker, made sure in the budget bill that Wisc. could sell the public utilities via no-bid contracts. Amazing what tyranny looks like up close and personal.

I hope the protests never die down, citizens keep up the pressure and recall every Republican who was elected. Maybe the Republicans will learn that voters have long memories and will not forget being betrayed by their own government.

The public workers must be demoralized, angry and plotting revenge. How awful it must be to go to work in Wisconsin knowing how much the state Republican run government hates all public employees. A terrible time in the history of a progressive state that was once proud, fair and had transparent government. I hope the Democrats and independents work hard to get back the government. Keep up the good work Democrats, the entire country is backing you in all your endeavors.

Posted by: northernlights | March 13, 2011 1:05 AM

Scott Walker and David Koch's victory is complete. All that was missing was the goose-stepping troops marching around the capitol and the red banners with the swastikas waving proudly in the wind.

They can trumpet their silly proclamations but they can never take away our right to collective bargaining because we are Americans.

Posted by: CALDEM | March 13, 2011 12:31 AM

Bravo, Scott Walker. He is the ONLY leader in this entire nation bravely pursuing solutions to his state's economic crisis. Not backing down. Stellar in his focus. Intent to indeed implement budget prudent solutions. And the cowardly dems in Wisconsin - what do they care - about ethically meeting him in the middle - or trying to broker solutions at all.

Bravo to this man - I hope he runs for President some day. Keep it up, Scott Walker. This nation - and the corrupted public unions that need to be brought in line with what our states and our nation can afford - need you too. To clean out their corrupted ranks.

I have a feeling the republican party is going to regret the actions of this one term governor--but what do I know? I haven't lived there all my life.

Posted by: steveinva | March 12, 2011 11:31 PM

That conversation Walker got caught talking to whom he thought was one of the Koch Brothers was a true giveaway. He will be voted out if not recalled out of office will happen as fast as his corporate buddies got him in.

Posted by: glenn113 | March 12, 2011 11:17 PM

Carolyn22:

Your posts are excellent and speak directly to the problems facing us here in Wisconsin.

Thank you!

Posted by: Greg_12 | March 12, 2011 11:14 PM

I find it amazing that Daddydiggity thinks the government worker is so muc more secure and rational than the private sector worker.

But at the same time he's readying himself for the end of civilization as he knows it.

And why will that happen? Because the state of Wisconsin will fail unless something changes, and changes quickly.

Where will his state job be then? There will be no state money to pay him. There will be no other state to which he can go and work in the capacity as he does in Wisconsin. Virtually all of the other states in the union are suffering through the same problems that Wisconsin is facing.

I'm nearing retirement and I will soon have the freedom to more wherever I want.

He's of the belief that the union workers will dominate. I don't think they will.

I know I could take my money and find a state that would tax me less. That might be a better alternative than staying in a state where the inmates would control the asylum -- where they think they've done absolutely nothing wrong... Isn't that one of the symptoms of mental disease, by the way?

Posted by: Greg_12 | March 12, 2011 10:55 PM

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blame President Obama, bigots.

Really. Don't Government beaurocrats not make enough money benefits pushing pencils and going to their meetings all day and talk and walk the way way they do while the rest of us suffer from poverty as it is?

Who will further cut our programs if not our beaurcrats in their shiny shoes and ties and pants suits? What kid needs food stamps when they can eat cake when poor, poor beaurocrats have to make do on the paltry civil service payscale?

What have they not done to diserve even an bigger piece of pie, and in wartime too? Give me a break. Next thing you know, poor people making over $80 - 90K, obviously having big problems just sqeeking by will need their tax cuts extended. Who will shine their shoes?

Don't they know how expensive the country club membership is these days? And how hard it would be to get any help (wiping their collectivly bargained rearends?)

Can't Wall Street fat cats and the warlords at home and far, far away be paid off on the backs of the working poor?

Signed,
The Washington Pinkskins (change the name)

Posted by: memorybridge1 | March 12, 2011 10:45 PM

I've lived in Wisconsin all 65 of my years. I've seen good things done by government and I've seen bad.

What Governor Walker is trying to do is NOT a bad thing. He's trying to get Wisconsin's fiscal problems under control. The people who are screaming for his recall in my mind are those who want to continue to something for nothing. They are those who don't want the freebies to end.

The state is facing a huge budget shortfall for the next two year and the fiscal "bleeding" has to be stopped.

If the agitators get their way and manage to save their precious little fiefdoms, the state will be finished -- and it won't be the fault of the Governor.

The number of union members in this state is a minority of the total population, but you wouldn't know it from the way they're screaming and wailing!

The state employees actually have it better than I do, so I really don't know why THEY are thinking the world has come to an end. Maybe it's because they are now going to have to face the same thing the private sector worker has to face. Be a good, productive worker or be gone. They haven't had that pressure before.

I think Governor Walker is doing a good job, and I think the majority of the voting citizens of this state think so, too.

Posted by: Greg_12 | March 12, 2011 10:40 PM

Amazing how 175,000 people in a state of 5.6m can be so costly, fiscally irresponsible and damaging to an economy.

Just a loud, selfish minority who has shown their true colors to all middle class non-public union members of the country. And we are not impressed.

Posted by: SamRon1 | March 12, 2011 10:16 PM

I was there. Is he winning? No. Will he be recalled? Absolutely. And defeated.

I find it funny that so many folks that post here go on and on about how wonderful government work is, and how hard (WAAAGGHH!) they have it in the private sector. Really?
Seems to me you're confessing to your own inadequacies-- why aren't you jumping on the govt job "gravy train"? Lack the initiative? The skills? The dedication? If it's so much better, you should be applying right now, now whining about how hard you have it!
This all boils down to pettiness- your job sucks, so you want EVERY ONE's job to suck.
Hey- you'll probably get your way! Get used to boiling water, and make sure your homeowner's has good fire coverage!! Off-road capable SUVs may become more important than ever, as well as the ability to be an excellent home-schooler.
Heck, I already own my own guns to keep safe since public safety's been slashed so much and courts can't seem to hold crooks accountable....if we're lucky, eventually the rich will allow us to hold our property in perpetuity in exchange for loyalty and labor oaths, and they will promise their security will protect us....Worked at the end of the Roman Empire, why not ours??

Posted by: DaddyDiggity | March 12, 2011 9:51 PM

Yeah, and the moron managed to misspell fait accompli twice.

Posted by: dmblum | March 12, 2011 9:48 PM

Hey Homeland Security this disruption goes beyond a democratic protest. Mob rule must be squelched. They lost. Now go home or be jailed. So the real working people can get on with their daily lives in peace.Posted by: mbarron48 | March 12, 2011 8:52 PM

--

Just in case anyone is tempted to believe this ridiculous garbage, what appears to be the largest demonstration yet occurred in Madison today and the police reported:
"the demonstrators were peaceful and no arrests were made."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117861864.html

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117862214.html

Posted by: twm1 | March 12, 2011 9:34 PM

Te forum questin is not on who is right, but who is winning.

Yesterday the Madison WI Firefighters Union organized a collective withdrawal of all funds in a bank which bankrolled Governor Walker. The bank ws shut down at 3 PM. Expect more of the same, including a boycott of all products sold by the Koch Brothers.

Any fascissts out there want toi call Homeland Security and arrest us for withdrawing OUR MONEY from a bank?

I taught high school briefly. My advice to teachers, particularly those with advanced degrees, is to quit teaching ASAP.

American students and parents aren't worth the trouble, and you can make a far better living elsewhere. Quitting teaching was the best decision I ever made.

Posted by: dmblum | March 12, 2011 9:17 PM

Excuse me I meant 'fait accomli'.

Posted by: mbarron48 | March 12, 2011 9:00 PM

During a conversation I was reminded that many of the teachers, not only in Wisconsin but across America are women. Having said that, is it the case that attacks on teacher's unions are also an assault on women. Trying to get fairness in employment and salaries has been a long and difficult struggle and now apparently these Republican governors are intent upon taking those hard fought gains back. Maybe I am wrong, but is this really about budget or maybe something else is going on.

Posted by: olddesert_rat | March 12, 2011 8:52 PM

Where is Homeland Security when we need them? The union thugs are destroying property, attacking those who disagree with them, physically trying to prevent the WI State Assembly from performing their job, continuing to protest after there has been a fete accompli, waving International Socialist Organization signs (the clenched fist signs), blocking traffic for those who would like to get to their jobs, sending threatening letters to businesses all over Wisconsin to support the union or to be boycotted by the union, screaming and menacing without stop. Enough of this mob rule!

They try to call this democracy at work. If this is democracy then yelling and screaming and throwing yourself on the floor because you don't get what you want is not the democracy most of the people in this country consider acceptable. Working people? How can they call themselves working people when they don't work but just hang out at the Capitol building screaming and yelling and throwing their trash around.

Hey Homeland Security this disruption goes beyond a democratic protest. Mob rule must be squelched. They lost. Now go home or be jailed. So the real working people can get on with their daily lives in peace.

Posted by: mbarron48 | March 12, 2011 8:52 PM

The fact that a large majority of state workers loath their governor is Walker's biggest problem now. He and his non-civil service staff better make sure everything they do is by the book. There will be so many whistle blowers the media and bloggers won't be able to keep up.

Unfortunately, they've been duped. Millions upon millions of Tea Partiers have been duped by a small but wealthy-and-powerful-beyond-comprehension cabal of neoconservative oligarchs.

These mysterious moguls have managed to remain fairly hidden - that is, until recently, but the phone prank with Scott Walker put at least two of them - the Koch Brothers - on the map, and it shined a bright light the rest of them and their PAC, which we understand is managed by Carl Rove and Grover Norquist.

Scott Walker is the lap boy for this crowd - he's a fool running a fool's errand. But he's dangerous, nontheless.

Americans everywhere need to get off of their fat behinds and mobilize against these monsters. We need to fight back. Hopefully, along the way the Tea Partiers will get wise that they've been had, and join the rest of us.

The oligarchs may have bazillions of dollars at their disposal, but we have numbers on our side. And based on this article, it's quite clear that most Americans are rejecting Walker's buL1$#it illegal political maneuver that strips workers of their rights.

C'mon people, stop being lazy. Get motivated. Fight back. We can win against the neocons. New faces, same terrible, terrible policies.

Posted by: commpro | March 12, 2011 8:48 PM

Wisc dems view of democracy is to run and hide in Illinois. Appropriate, as that is a state run into the ground by democrat policies. I think it would be a good idea if all democrats left their states and went to Illinois. Ah, leadership. They apparently learned their skills from Obama who refuses to lead on any issue. Has he showed up yet to the protests as he promised? Of course not. He's all rhetoric awaiting for someone else to make the first move. leadership is not an adjective used to describe any democrats these days.

Posted by: Tostitos | March 12, 2011 8:19 PM

Wisconsin voters will have an opportunity to reverse what Walker has done within the next 8 months. This will require only 5 actions by eligible voters.
1. Sign petition to RECALL REPUB. SENATOR
2. April 5th DEFEAT DAVID PROSSER (state
wide Supreme Ct. election)
3. Vote to DEFEAT REPUBLICAN SENATOR in
recall election
4. Sign petition to RECALL SCOTT WALKER
5. Vote to DEFEAT SCOTT WALKER in recall
election

Posted by: ThankuScotty2012 | March 12, 2011 8:05 PM

Walker has tosed away any hope for a national political future. He will always be lumped together with the Koch brothers as their "patsy." He sold his soul and no spin can erase that from the minds of the public. Next year, he'll not be Govenor!

Posted by: twistbar67 | March 12, 2011 8:03 PM

Now Walker will have the power to make the necessary changes. Bad teachers can now be fired. Teachers that commit felonies can be fired. Under the old system, union management fought every move to improve education. Summary: Wisc will have better teachers and a better system to improve a failed education system run by union management.

Also, the state can now get cheaper and better health benefits for the workers w/o the union skimming so much off the top. And teachers will be able to keep more of their own money, if they choose, rather than turning it over to union thugs.

Unions use and abuse their members and are only concerned about power. They could care less about improving education or the lives of their members....they use their members as pawns to gain power. Good riddance!!!!

Today, those teachers still have better healthcare and better pensions than their federal counterparts. Plus they still have bargaining power over wages, something federal employees do not. This phony outrage will ultimately be seen for what it is.....a bunch of crap.

Posted by: Tostitos | March 12, 2011 8:01 PM

I just returned from outside the Lincoln Day Dinner in Washburn, Wisconsin, where Gov. Walker is speaking. Here, at the top to the State of Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Superior, in one of the most remote corners of our fair state, the governor had to be sneaked into a restaurant instead of proudly announcing his presence. Why? Because over 2,000 protesters lined the frozen streets, braving a biting cold wind, chanting "This is what democracy looks like!" and "Recall Walker!" These were not out of state protesters. These were my neighbors, young, old and in between. These were people who would have ordinarily been honored to have the governor make an appearance, acknowledging that we even exist up here in the north county. We are shocked, saddened and furious about how our state's long tradition of fair and honest government has been hijacked by a governor financed by billionaires and a national Republican agenda that declares the young, the sick, the middle class and the old fair game. We WILL recall Walker.

Posted by: mary-caroline | March 12, 2011 8:00 PM

Try to look at it like this: the governor had to hurt his own future to get this "win". Now he will weaken and fall from power. This is still the United States, not some banana republic.

Posted by: realadult | March 12, 2011 7:44 PM

" a controlled workforce to slave for them so that they can watch their dividends roll in "

This is how you debate in the bizzaro world that leftists inhabit. You synthesize your own evil intentions with the charges you are leveling against your opponents, into a "big lie" so unbelieveable, it would make Hitler blush.

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 7:25 PM

Walker won the battle, but did he win the war?

The war's just getting started. Once working class America wakes up to what this affluent white Tea Party wants of them - a controlled workforce to slave for them so that they can watch their dividends roll in - there will be a labor revolt in this country. Then it will be open season on the Tea Party!

Posted by: kgblankinship1 | March 12, 2011 7:01 PM

With the unions effectively destroyed, tenure can now be eliminated for teachers. This means the US can return to the glory days of the 1950s. It is time to get all the subversive-leftist-communist-Democrats out of teaching just as they did by the thousands in the 1950s. Legislative committees need to be revived to investigate the subversive-leftist-communist-Democrats. Just like the 1950s, people can be forced to appear before these committees and testify about their political activities and fired when they are accused of activities or beliefs which conflict with conservative US values. People can be required to identify other people who are subversive-Democrats, just like the 1950s. People who take the 5th Amendment can also be fired just like they were in the 1950s. The elimination of unions and tenure will allow us to return to the freedom and democracy that prevailed in this country fifty years ago which was ruined when the teachers started organizing unions and began to achieve defenses against political firings.

Posted by: twm1 | March 12, 2011 6:59 PM

"Oh sure! Walker will certainly win the war -- hands DOWN!"

That's true if we define "winning hands down" as "precipitating a recall effort that ultimately results in the loss of control of the state Senate and the Governorship by the state GOP".

If Walker moved to Mississippi though, I'm sure the he probably would flourish after this one. If he doesn't do that, there's undoubtedly a job with Koch Industries waiting for him.

Walker's already shipped the company tens of millions of dollars in benefits on behalf of Wisconsin residents and taxpayers. At a cost of $1.2 million or so in contributions, that's a nice ROI for the Koch crooks. At this point though its not as profitable as scams that they've used to underpay royalties on oil drilling permits on federal lands, or in gambits that they've used to avoid paying for pollution. So Walker probably will find other ways to rob state coffers before he's sent packing.

http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1996/b3469090.arc.htm

Posted by: JPRS | March 12, 2011 6:44 PM

Total out of state support, I'd wager is less than 1 percent. Wisconsin still has one of the higher unionization rates in the U.S., so you don't have to look far to find 100K to 200K people to demonstrate in the state capitol. If this was 100K to 200K in Mississippi THEN you might have an argument about "outsiders" agitating. The old south has so badly brow-beaten its workers into submission that its workers will never stand on their own two feet demanding fair treatment. The same is not true in the midwest.

On a related note, neither of the Koch brothers lives in Wisconsin, yet, unlike the overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites they can actually get their calls answered by the Governor. Where would the Wisconsin state GOP be today if the Koch brothers hadn't purchased a controlling interest of the state party in 2010?

Posted by: JPRS | March 12, 2011 6:30 PM

Oh sure! Walker will certainly win the war -- hands DOWN!

The small but noisy, mouthy union groups always squeal as though their interest is one of national importance, and they have the means, through union thuggery to afford this.

I've seen some of the leftwing pundits squealing that Walker will lose in the long run but this is simply a sore loser whistling whislt walking past the graveyard. Americans want jobs and spending cuts.

If Walker gets his projected 250K jobs, the leftists will cease to exist as anything more than old members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, Weather Underground, and so on.

A beautiful thang!

Posted by: cIearspt1 | March 12, 2011 6:30 PM

For all those union marchers in WI today, what percentage were bussed in from out of state? Do they get to vote on the "recall" of the republican legislators?
As I see it, this is NOT "democracy in action", but the action of a union minority that is vocal and intimidating....bent on making the WI taxpayer pay for their actions on their real estate taxes....Taxpayers of WI : accept this and you have no sympathy from the taxpayers of other states!!!

Posted by: SeniorVet | March 12, 2011 6:19 PM

Fleebaggers +1

Union thug fleebaggers -1

Posted by: Smarg | March 12, 2011 6:15 PM

Posted By PropandaBuster: It is interesting how the conservative / right wing / Republican readers demand that public workers pay their "fair share" of costs. For your information: two thirds of American corporations don't pay ANY taxes (not one dime), even though they use public services, infrastructure, garbage collection, police, firemen etc. when they need it. I repeat, they pay ZERO.
*****************************************
Yes, I am one of those mean Conservatives. Now, pay your fair share...according to whose standards. If you work for a corporation or own a business, we pay a MUCH LARGER PERCENTAGE FOR HEALTH BENEFITS. About your pensions...I have to create my own...nobody gives me one. So...what was it you were saying about "fair".

Then you go onto bash corporations. YOU, MY DEAR UNION WORKER ARE NOT A CORPORATION, YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE OF ME...THE TAXPAYER AND YOU HAVE BEEN PAID TWICE THE SALARY AS THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

What do corporation provide that you do not? JOBS...and those jobs equate to taxes that HELP PAY FOR YOUR BENEFITS, YOUR PENSIONS and make me...your EMPLOYER DO WITH LESS...SO YOU CAN HAVE MORE.

Posted by: Carolyn22 | March 12, 2011 6:04 PM

Here's what is happening and I hope everyone reads this. (1) Public...not private employees lost the right to collective bargain on benefits. NO ONE is reporting this...so I will. The public unions per their vote, buy their insurance through the Wisconsin Trust...IT IS OWNED BY THE UNIONS AND IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

(2)American taxpayers are watching this unfold. Now that the unions have sent threatening letters to businesses and stated they would boycott them if they support Walker (extortion), America is wondering what happened to the "good guys". Aren't teachers, firefighters and policemen held out as "good". After trashing the capital building..have you ever given thought to how you have helped your "fellow firefighters,policemen and teachers" around America? Do we give to the police benevolent association? Do we drop money in the boot when they are at a stop light? Are we giving that money to unions?

(3) The taxpayers...NOT WALKER are your employers. We are broke. We have had to tighten our belt while you are paid twice the salary we receive.

(4) While your neighboring state of Illinois has chosen to raise taxes, making it NON FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS, businesses that do want to move out of Illinois WILL NOT BE PICKING WISCONSIN.

So...congratulations...you have shot yourself in the foot and spread the gangrene to the rest of your professions.

Posted by: Carolyn22 | March 12, 2011 5:53 PM

The cancellation of collective bargaining for union employees, is what they were after from the start. For as long as this law stands - which won't be long - the GOP has rendered WI no different than Stalin, as a government boss. You couldn't negotiate anything as a laborer in the USSR either. (Republicans don't see the problem with that...)

1 Big Positive: these morons just accelerated the recall process that was already in gear for them. You will see it repeated in Ohio, Arizona, and anywhere else these extremists go too far. Walker will be put out of office by recall, next year. Bookmark it.

- Balkingpoints / www

Posted by: Reg373 | March 12, 2011 5:52 PM

"two thirds of American corporations don't pay ANY taxes (not one dime), even though they use public services, infrastructure, garbage collection, police, firemen etc. when they need it. I repeat, they pay ZERO."

First of all, that's demonstrably not true.
Secondly, corporations SHOULD NOT pay taxes. Every single person that earns an income in that corporation pays their taxes, at the same rate you do.

(unless you're a typical democrat voter, in which case you are given money earned from those working in those corporations, and probably have been every year of your worthless life)

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 5:50 PM

It is interesting how the conservative / right wing / Republican readers demand that public workers pay their "fair share" of costs. For your information: two thirds of American corporations don't pay ANY taxes (not one dime), even though they use public services, infrastructure, garbage collection, police, firemen etc. when they need it. I repeat, they pay ZERO.

How come conservatives never "demand" that corporations and the rich pay THEIR fair share??? E.g. Goldman Sachs that received a huge, mega-billion dollar TAXPAYER BAILOUT has a one (1) percent tax rate. Wall Street hedge fund managers' income tax is maxed at 15%. Mine is twice that. How come???

WHEN WILL A CONSERVATIVE DEMAND THAT THE RICH, CORPORATIONS, WALL STREET AND OTHER BAILOUT RECIPIENTS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE???

Conservatives, you are the worst hypocrites, fully owned and operated by corporations and Wall Street banksters, shame on you.

Those banksters so close to your hearts take home MORE in bonuses a year (even though they made history's biggest business failure) than the COMBINED deficit of all fifty (50) states. If those "bonuses" that they gave themselves to reward their colossal failures were clawed back, no state would need to worry about one red cent of deficit!

Posted by: PropagandaBuster | March 12, 2011 5:41 PM

DaddyDiggity: I'm quite sure that if you 'can't take it" any more, there will be THOUSANDS of applicants for your job. Social Security recipients paid in ALL THEIR LIFE for their benefits ...who the hell are YOU to say they should be cut?????

Posted by: slamming | March 12, 2011 5:40 PM

I don't know what polls you are referring to but I was just reading all the comments on JSonline. It appears the people of Wisconsin were standing behind Governor Walker 5 to 1. Sir, this is not a "war,"
it is the way democracy works - with exclusion to the 14 Senators who selected to be AWOL from their jobs. That is not war, it is cowardness.

Posted by: Debbie19 | March 12, 2011 5:37 PM

"So are you saying that tax paying citizens along with their supporters shouldn't have the right to free speech and protest what they feel is unfair to them?"

You have the right to screech as loud as you want.
You don't have the right to disrupt commerce, and violate state laws.

I would rain down on their little parade so hard, you would probably never even contemplate breaking another law in your life.

"I mean, I certainly don't recall people saying the same thing about the tea party protests."

That's because we don't break laws

"I mean anytime someone said anything negative, we were all reminded that they had the right to free speech and how they were patriots and all."

As I said, screech until your heart is content.

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 5:34 PM

The R's did the D's a huge favor, 'cause the D's have not been able to rein in the unions and free themselves from those golden handcuffs.

Everyone will win on this, with one exception, the union boss.

Right To Work States are doing very well, thank you.

Posted by: tripferguson1 | March 12, 2011 5:32 PM

Tha"It is time for the trucker and everyone else to set there cars and trucks on interstate 85 and do in all direction to lock down the state of WI.."t would be cool.
A union trucker vs. National Guard contest, eh?
That sounds fun.
If I were the gov. I'd mount cameras to the humvees, and charge pay-perview prices to watch the fun.
And I wouldn't give a dime of it to a single public employee.

So are you saying that tax paying citizens along with their supporters shouldn't have the right to free speech and protest what they feel is unfair to them?

I mean, I certainly don't recall people saying the same thing about the tea party protests. I mean anytime someone said anything negative, we were all reminded that they had the right to free speech and how they were patriots and all.

Posted by: catmomtx | March 12, 2011 5:27 PM

all brave Gov. Walker did was to represent all the taxpayers and to tackle the huge deficit he was handed.
Posted by: mightyheidi | March 12, 2011 4:16 PM

So, those citizens that Governor Walker represents who pay taxes and just happen to be public employees don't deserve to be represented? They deserve to be ignored? They deserve to have their rights taken from them? They deserved to be vilified and demeaned and made to be the scape goats for the entire state budget woes? It is amazing how some people seem to see public employees as sub human robots or something.

What Governor Walker did was pit one tax paying citizen against another in his quest to bust unions. Oh and unions by the way that did not support him during his recent election were not stripped of their collective bargaining rights. Why? Oh, and by the way. He didn't inherit a huge deficit. The deficit he refers to came after he approved tax cuts for businesses and corporations. If he had left their taxes the way they were, not cutting or raising, there wouldn't have been a deficit. Meanwhile to punish the unions, he is punishing the rest of the state by slashing education and other programs that benefits those that need them the most.

Posted by: catmomtx | March 12, 2011 5:19 PM

"It is time for the trucker and everyone else to set there cars and trucks on interstate 85 and do in all direction to lock down the state of WI.."

That would be cool.
A union trucker vs. National Guard contest, eh?
That sounds fun.

If I were the gov. I'd mount cameras to the humvees, and charge pay-perview prices to watch the fun.
And I wouldn't give a dime of it to a single public employee.

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 5:11 PM

It is time for the amercian workers to take back this coutry.
I am sick the big corportion always running things and putting this country alway into the hole. They tell us lies and the GOP take all the kick backs from them.
It is time for the trucker and everyone else to set there cars and trucks on interstate 85 and do in all direction to lock down the state of WI..
Until the unions are put back in or Walker and GOP leave office

Posted by: buddhalady09 | March 12, 2011 5:05 PM

The Wisconsin GOP obviously has no idea what a Pyrrhic victory is. They will learn, and in short time.

Posted by: vortex1001 | March 12, 2011 4:53 PM

Congratulation to Governor Walker. The taxpayers all these years has been funding the unions whether they wanted to or not. Union dues were paid by the state with our taxes which then elected Democrats who helped the unions get deals that no one in the private sector has. Workers in states without unions do just fine. Union member should not have special rights because there are laws now that protect them any everyone else from abuse. Union bosses are furious because tax payers funds will no longer go to them and workers can now decide each year if they want to be in the union or not.

Posted by: katie6 | March 12, 2011 4:40 PM

Ever wonder WHY public employees received good benefits and job security, despite mediocre pay? To avoid corruption and bribery.
Also, at one time it was believed that the people that respond to fires, arrest and confront criminals, calculate how much you own in fees and taxes, assess zoning laws and regs, maintain your roads and clean water- should be committed and skilled due to the enormous impact they have on our daily lives.
People are bolting from State service when private jobs open up, at least in my Department. It's a myth state workers are so lazy no one wants them- private employers LOVE to hire former govt. workers so they can arrange sweetheart deals with their former bosses.
I've worked private for 20 years, state for 10- I like my job, but if cuts get any worse, I'll bolt, too.
If civil service becomes unrewarding, it won't be done.
In the end, you ALWAYS get what you pay for.
Whiny, lazy Americans want top-notch public services and pampering by the government- even Republicans are too scared to cut Social Security and Medicare, the real beasts draining our budget- but no one wants to pay for them.
It will be interesting to see what happens-
I suspect our govt. services will soon resemble Mexico's.

Posted by: DaddyDiggity | March 12, 2011 4:39 PM

Republicans in WI will find out just like white america did in th 60s,you're not the superman you think you are!

YES WE ARE....As long as we are the WORKING TAXPAYERS in this once great country of ours, we will always be. Welfare as you knew it is over. You lost the elections, get over it.

Posted by: frankn1 | March 12, 2011 4:35 PM

Obama - the special interest, quid pro quo, pay-to-play, corrupt, gangster President. He is a disgrace to America.

But I will no longer need to be defensive as a Tea Party member since it is the Wisconsin union thugs issuing the death threats and threatening businesses.

Posted by: hz9604 | March 12, 2011 4:31 PM

AffinityGW1

blah blah blah

Posted by: ChangeWhat | March 12, 2011 4:20 PM

"the problem is the disintegration of public education. Already a field with very high turnover that attracts the lower third of academic performers into Teacher Colleges to begin with"

Oh come now. Anyone who has attended a university knows the choice for teachers wasn't engineering, medicine, or computer science. Teaching as a profession is hard work. Teaching as a college major is probably the easiest major.

Its never made sense why all these teachers colleges changed to being a University. They used to be good at training teachers. Now they're sorta mediocre at everything.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 4:20 PM

"The question is will Americans let things get that bad before they put their foot down and say "no more."

We already have. Remember November?

Try to keep up

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 4:19 PM

all brave Gov. Walker did was to represent all the taxpayers and to tackle the huge deficit he was handed. The unions could care less, see how ugly they can get when asked to contribute their FAIR share & not just symbolic contributions of a measly 5 and l2%. If they continue to have their "collective bargaining" we will be back in the same dire situation we are now. Walker had it right. Taxpayers speak out and demand REFORM in unions collective bargaining.

Posted by: mightyheidi | March 12, 2011 4:16 PM

Wow, imagine that! It's not about winning or losing but about doing what the voters aka taxpayers ask you to do, then actually doing it!!! Maybe DC will get the hint!!!!!

Posted by: Jimbo77 | March 12, 2011 4:15 PM

Walker wrote a column in the Wall Street Journal about how his brother works for a hotel and his sister-in-law works at a department store and they have to pay $800 a month for health insurance. He didn't say if his relatives have Master's degrees like many teachers, take courses during summers to keep up their skills and licenses, and end up paying for school supplies for their classes out of their own pockets. He didn't say that all employers should pay a living wage so that everyone can have a decent life. No. Because his brother and sister-in-law don't earn high wages and pay too much for health insurance, he wants to be sure government employees do likewise. As we see in the Middle East, when a nation's wealth is concentrated among too few, eventually people rebel. The question is will Americans let things get that bad before they put their foot down and say "no more."

Posted by: MNUSA | March 12, 2011 4:13 PM

Wow, imagine that! It's not about winning or losing but about doing what the voters aka taxpers ask you to do, then actually doing it!!! Maybe DC will get the hint!!!!!

Posted by: Jimbo77 | March 12, 2011 4:13 PM

"Walker won the battle, but has NOT won the war"

It's over already. I think you're a little confused.

"Corporate America has this country in a strangle hold"

I see your confusion. The teachers union has nothing to do with corporate America (whatever that means). These unions have an adversarial relationship with the taxpayer.

You do understand that every dollar that is paid to teachers comes from the pocketbook of the residents of Wisconsin?

"The average worker, if lucky to have a job, works harder than any worker in the civilized world"

I'm not sure what this means. What is an average worker? How do you know he works harder than any worker in the civilized world? Do you think workers in the uncivilized world work harder? Don't they deserve union representation too?

Are you trying to claim some sort of grand salary equivalence? If so, then does a teacher work harder than a solder fighting in Iraq? If not, then what the heck *are* you trying to say?

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 4:10 PM

First of all, WAPO, thank you so much for cleaning up the comment section.
Walker won the battle, but has NOT won the war.
Corporate America has this country in a strangle hold. The average worker, if lucky to have a job, works harder than any worker in the civilized world.
Unions helped my family live a modest life when I was growing up.
Unions have helped this country with a working wage, the forty hour work week; etc.
Corporate America; funded by the Right with their tax cuts and loopholes, made their biggest profits 1st quarter 2011, but are sluggish regarding hiring more workers. Why should they when they can overwork the people they have to the point of a nervous breakdown?
We are, because of the breathtaking disregard of humans by the Right and corporations, in a race to the bottom.
Walker is just a shill of the Koch brothers. That is all this man is.
This insanity has finally awakened the Left. We are very angry.

Posted by: lenegal77 | March 12, 2011 3:58 PM

The taxpayers won.

Posted by: postfan1 | March 12, 2011 3:54 PM

Wisconsin Republican majority leader Scott Fitzgerald has made it clear that the legislation to destroy unions is mainly for partisan political purposes, not balancing any budget. Fitzgerald told Fox News: "If we win this battle... President Obama is going to have a much more difficult time getting elected and winning the state of Wisconsin."

Posted by: twm1 | March 12, 2011 3:52 PM

Is it not completely clear, even to those who prefer their ideological delusions to the obvious facts, that elements in this country have declared war on the majority of citizens of the USA. Walker is just a tool and running dog for these interests. Not all the very rich are evil but clearly there are those with the money and power who are using their means to buy little soldiers like walker to do their dirty work and advance their cynical agendas. Where's the chief executive of the country in all this? Nowhere to be found, as usual. What a total and complete waste and disappointment. Clearly positioning himself for 2012 seems to be his only real priority and concern. Hope? Really? Hopeless is more like it. In the meantime the right wing machine is marching this country towards complete corporatocracy. Just like the 3rd world, no? A few super rich and a nation of disenfranchised peasants..........Great.

Posted by: mjk47 | March 12, 2011 3:36 PM

Why are comments closed on so many articles?

Walker was doing what the he felt was best for the state. It might be wrong, and if so, the people will vote the GOP out. I don't see that happening.

People have been trying to say Obama ran on reforming health care, and he did. He wants a single payer system, that is what he ran on. He delivered a huge cluster f*** that the people screamed at the top of their lungs that they did not want. Now we find out that the law does not allow itself to be repealed or modified by future congresses, and that it locks in spending that little can be done to stop it by future congresses or presidents. If that is not a tyranny I do not know what one is.

Please tell us how this Wisconsin law, which allows collective bargaining for wages, not benefits is SO different from how federal employees bargain?

Posted by: thelaw1 | March 12, 2011 3:34 PM

"The Republican answer for America's economic woes is to sponsor a race to the bottom for the American working class while giving the rich another round of tax breaks."

How does limiting the theft of tax-dollars result in "a race to the bottom", for the real working class, the ones who are forced to fund the theft?

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 3:33 PM

Official Republican Party television ads in Wisconsin are now demonizing union workers, leadership, and the President in inflammatory terms. They are attempting to pit the rest of workers against union workers and unions by fixating on collective bargaining as tyranny and a threat to middle class economical stability and fairness. Generating hate and class splitting extremism demonstrate actual Republican attempts to exploit the damage they have already caused into conflict for political advantages.

Intemperate blame gamers now have a new enemy to attack, perhaps with actual violence. Identifying public workers and citizen demonstrators as extremists, thugs, outsiders, and slobs by the Governor and Republican Legislators has been divisive and shocking. Now the are fomenting intraclass warfare and irreconcilable division to separate out a new voting block and continue their attack on individuals' rights and influence.

This is beyond demagoguery and is incitement of of base instincts into political advantage. The Republican Party is intent on its own power at all costs. Truth does not matter, consensus is shunned for conflict, family values and personal rights only apply for voter captivity and pandering, and strictly limited democracy trumps freedom and opportunity.

Republican subversive activity is hidden under pretense, hypocrisy, and nonstop propaganda that pits citizens against each other and against their government. There will be universal suffering from the consequences.

Posted by: AffinityGW1 | March 12, 2011 3:29 PM

It should have nothing to do with political party. It is about fiscal responsibility for federal, state and local government. The Wisconsin governor is a one term politician, but it is a sacrifice he will have to bear. The day of reckoning is coming in America and it is very close. I hope and pray that we survive this as a nation, only time will tell....

Posted by: dlfumuc | March 12, 2011 3:22 PM

UNIONS THREATEN BUSINESS:

To Wisc. Business,

"...In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the
goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership..."

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer, at 608.273.3840.

The Republican answer for America's economic woes is to sponsor a race to the bottom for the American working class while giving the rich another round of tax breaks.

Their goal is to create another Chile after the takeover of Pinochet.

Posted by: msmart2u | March 12, 2011 3:16 PM

Teachers are seen as just a bunch of winey women. But Walker will take on the girls and won't fight the "men with the important jobs," the cops and firefighters. But Teachers need more education then either group. It's because teaching is women and it's not valued. So Wisconsin will end up like us here in Texas, #48 out of 50, and the average teacher leaving after just 1-2 years.

Posted by: magnifco1000 | March 12, 2011 3:12 PM

Walker will, in the long run, lose. And hopefully his ham handed technique will have awoken a "Sleeping Giant" in the form of middle class America and he will take the Republican Party down with him.

Posted by: mehrenst1 | March 12, 2011 3:02 PM

"the state of North Carolina where it has been an ongoing process now for years as that we are a right to work state an their is no oppurnity for public sector to organize nor for us to have collective barging rights either."

Good for North Carolina.

You are employees of the tax payers of North Carolina.
Why should you be allowed to "negotiate" yourselves a higher standard of living than most of the people who pay your wages and benefits have?

May every state in the union become as North Carolina.

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 2:58 PM

Reposting, because this is just so good. The Unions are the Borg: Join us, or die.

- - - - - - -

Below is an intimidation letter sent by the WI unions to all of the businesses in WI. I think it pretty much speaks for itself... This is mob rule.

March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL
Dear Mr. Ellis:
As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin…
As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.
The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.
In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table.Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.
In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the
Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer, at 608.273.3840.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
James L. Palmer, Executive Director
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Mahlon Mitchell,President
Professional Professional Fire Fighters
Jim Conway, President
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311
John Matthews, Execuctive Director
Madison Teachers, Inc.
Keith Patt, Executive Director
Green Bay Education Association
Bob Richardson, President
Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association
Dan Frei, Prersident
Madison Professional Police Officers Association
The primary signatory of the letter is James L. Palmer, the executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association:
POSTED BY: MBARRON48 | MARCH 12, 2011 1:40

Posted by: dmarney | March 12, 2011 2:41 PM

It is not just Wisconsin's war- it is everyone's war now. The GOP has now been outed. If anyone had doubts before about what the GOP stood for and who they stood with, they are now gone. It is clear to all that ALL republicans engaged in a scorched earth jihad against the middle class and anyone who works for a living in the US. And people are VERY motivated by this sudden realization...

Posted by: staussfamily | March 12, 2011 2:33 PM

From another poster here:
"So this is where the GOP want to take us... They must be defeated. They they want no unions... Saudi Air has many seats ready for you. Chavez will welcome your blind obedience anytime..."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The GOP is not interested in "no unions". It IS interested in the corrupt relationship between labor and legislators who trade benefits for votes.
With the taxpayer footing the bill? That can't go on.
----------

Thats not true is it? The GOP hates labor which is why labor unions do not give to the GOP. This is an attack on the Democratic party by way of working people.

When will the GOP stop accepting mooney from big agro, big oil and a plethera of corp donors that get billions of tax payer dollars?

Never...

This is all a power grab and nothing more.

Posted by: dwdave67 | March 12, 2011 2:27 PM

From another poster here:
"So this is where the GOP want to take us... They must be defeated. They they want no unions... Saudi Air has many seats ready for you. Chavez will welcome your blind obedience anytime..."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The GOP is not interested in "no unions". It IS interested in the corrupt relationship between labor and legislators who trade benefits for votes.
With the taxpayer footing the bill? That can't go on.

The union protesters make all the protests. The Lawmakers make all the laws.

When the unions are done whining, the laws will control their lives.

50 years of "rights" mean nothing today. Times change and for the better...

Posted by: ron21 | March 12, 2011 2:01 PM

Walker used the false budget reasoning to break the union....

Just so all of us know who Walker keeps company with as far as not allowing collective bargaining.

Hugo Chavez
The Saudi Royal Family
Stalin
Hitler

Now can you name a country that has democracy and no collective bargaining/union movement of some sort?

No, you can't because there isn't any..

So this is where the GOP want to take us... They must be defeated. They they want no unions... Saudi Air has many seats ready for you. Chavez will welcome your blind obedience anytime...

Posted by: dwdave67 | March 12, 2011 1:50 PM

MBARRON48, you've got to be kidding! It's now intimidation to exercise the right to boycott a business that doesn't value it's workers?

You conservatives have thin skins and your hypocrites. It was conservative groups that boycotted businesses that supported liberal causes. It was the Teabaggers who marched with signs and shouted down their opponents.

I hope no liberal or union person ever looks crosseyed at you. I wouldn't want you to wet your pants.

Posted by: arancia12 | March 12, 2011 1:47 PM

Walker won the battle and the war. To defeat a well funded special interest group like union management is a coup. For someone to finally represent the best interests of The People is a coup. To defeat a media who was wholly sypathetic to union thuggery, government deficits, and generational greed is a coup. Give Walker a hat trick and a very bright future.

POSTED BY: DNCANDME

_____________________

The sad thing is, that well-funded special interest group was defeated by an even better funded special interest groups: The GOP, Koch brothers, and corporate interests.

Good luck with that trifecta. You'll see how bright the future is going to be.

Posted by: arancia12 | March 12, 2011 1:43 PM

Below is an intimidation letter sent by the WI unions to all of the businesses in WI. I think it pretty much speaks for itself. If we in this country allow an organization such as the unions to bully us into compliance instead of through the voting booth then they own us. They have taken our freedoms and kicked them to the curb. This is mob rule.

March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL
Dear Mr. Ellis:
As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin…
As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.
The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.
In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table.Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.
In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the
Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer, at 608.273.3840.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
James L. Palmer, Executive Director
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Mahlon Mitchell,President
Professional Professional Fire Fighters
Jim Conway, President
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311
John Matthews, Execuctive Director
Madison Teachers, Inc.
Keith Patt, Executive Director
Green Bay Education Association
Bob Richardson, President
Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association
Dan Frei, Prersident
Madison Professional Police Officers Association
The primary signatory of the letter is James L. Palmer, the executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association:

Posted by: mbarron48 | March 12, 2011 1:40 PM

Walker won the battle and the war. To defeat a well funded special interest group like union management is a coup. For someone to finally represent the best interests of The People is a coup. To defeat a media who was wholly sypathetic to union thuggery, government deficits, and generational greed is a coup. Give Walker a hat trick and a very bright future.

Posted by: dncandme | March 12, 2011 1:36 PM

Only time will tell if support by a majority of Wisconsin voters has waned.

If Walker reduces the budget and deficit he'll probably get re-elected.

If not, it will depend on whether voters prefer his opponent.

Those donations to the Wisconsin DNC were probably from out-of-state.

Posted by: janet8 | March 12, 2011 1:20 PM

Because of the political deregulation that has been being allowed to teka place with the states governemrtn workfroces across this country an most especailly within the state of North Carolina where it has been an ongoing process now for years as that we are a right to work state an their is no oppurnity for public sector to organize nor for us to have collective barging rights either. these Republican aonly giive lip service to state employe actually being able to do their jobs dutys anto carry out their dutys as described with in the states personel manuals it is all about the deregulation of busineess that do business with the taxpayers of this state an totoaly disregarding the efforts of state employees to be able to enforce the effective regulations an speceficiations of these contractors an their contracts that are supposely to be providing services to the state taxpaying citizens of this state an this is occuring across this nation in every state in the union all being orchestrated by the republican party an their millionair an billionair doners to them . thank you

Posted by: pbjbeach@yahoo.com | March 12, 2011 1:11 PM

Only the next election will tell whether he and the GOP (on a national level) have won the war. If not, they will know it.

Posted by: tinyjab40 | March 12, 2011 1:03 PM

THESE ANTI UNION AN ANTI LABOR ACTIONS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN AGAINS THE MEN AN WOME WITHIN THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE IS THE REPUBLICANS PARTYS IDEAS OF SAVING AMERICA FOR I ONCE HAD A REPUBLICAN PARTY MEMEBR TO TELL ME THAT HE BELEIVE THAT HITLER HAD THE RIGHT IDEAS THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW WHERE THEY ARE TRUELY COMING FROM THERE INMY PEROSNAL OPIONON NEED TO BE A NATION WIDE REVOLT AGINST THE ENTIRE REPBULCIAN PARTY AN THEIR OVEREACHING EFFOR TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY INTO A DICTORSHIP AN A WHITE SUPEREMECY GROUP WITHOUT ANY FORM OF DIVERSITY WHAT SO EVER AN EQULA RIGHT AN CIVIL RIGHT AN PERSONAL RIGHTS AN FREEDOMS ACROSS THIS LAND HAVE BEEN BEING ATTACKED BY THE COPORTE ELITIEST TO MANGE THE WHOLE WORLD INTO ONE BIG DICTORSHIP AGAINST THE WORKING MASSES AN THE WORKING CLASS OF THIS COUNTRY AN THIS WORLD AN TURN US INTO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY MORES THAN WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE SO BY THE OUTSOUCRING OF AMERICAN JOBS TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRY . I PERSONALY DO NOT EVER WANT TO HEAR ANY REPBULICAN SPEAK OF THE IDEA OF PATROITISM EVERY AGAIN AN ANY SPEACHGIEN BY THEM ANY WHERE IN THIS COUNTRY THANK YOU

Posted by: pbjbeach@yahoo.com | March 12, 2011 12:55 PM

I can already invision the new political ads that will be produce in the forth coming an upcoming 20012 election cycle across this nation against the repbulcian canditaes for office from dog catcher all the way up to the repbulican party candiates for the office of president of the united states of america . an these responsible repbulican party members will be held accountably for their anti union anti workers rights within the workkforce of america this is going to show the repbulican party of this country just how trickle down theory will work to oppose them come 2012 evryone across this country vote these repbulcian out of office an recall them as soon as possibly thank you

Posted by: pbjbeach@yahoo.com | March 12, 2011 12:44 PM

BYE BYE Walker and the GOP. You can always be counted on to do the wrong thing for our corporate masters

Posted by: dwdave67 | March 12, 2011 12:44 PM

Omnibudsman1 wrote:

Gov (egged on by the GOP) signs trade deals to let good paying jobs go overseas so the few at the top can make even more money at the expense of middle class working people. (thus killing unions)"
Actually, it was Bill William Jefferson Clinton that signed these deals. He is a Democrat
-----------

NAFTA was written by conservatives and voted "YES" by almost all conservatives... Nice try. Clinton was no liberal and no friend of working people either.
====================
Do you know who gave the banks a Trillion dollars with no oversight? Another Democrat, Barrack Hussein Obama. I guess that was George Bush's fault, eh?
You're so silly you don't understand the game that being played here.
--------------

Again right wing ignorance... the first bailout... you know the one whicg BofA used to buy Countrywide and Merril Lynch was under Bush.
Which is not to say Democrats were anywhere close to clean on these bailouts as well... But keep trying rightist.

Posted by: Ombudsman1

Posted by: dwdave67 | March 12, 2011 12:41 PM

This is not about the budget this is about the republicons and there big business buddies stepping on the backs of the working folks.

Posted by: Woodstocknative | March 12, 2011 12:40 PM

What ever happen to let the people deside what's good for the people, this is why people should listen to what Politicians say. It's not good to lie to the American Voters because, they will straighten out their mistake the second time around. Anytime the elected go against the people who voted them in, the voters will always come back later and make the choice that should have been made in the first place. SHAME ON GOVERNOR WALKER!!! His true intentions have now been revealed, UNION BUSTING!!! this was'nt even politics it was more like POLITRICKS!!! but the voters will have their say, one way or the other.

Posted by: deezerpelham | March 12, 2011 12:39 PM

The polls show Walker is dead now in Wisconsin. If he doesn't deliver on jobs and an improved economy now in that state, he's finished for sure.

Posted by: magnifco1000 | March 12, 2011 12:15 PM

Walker kicked the Teachers Union in the teeth and won the war.

It's over and legislation like this is sweeping the nation.

It's about time.

Posted by: NyallsStJohnSmytheIV | March 12, 2011 12:10 PM

Let the market settle it. If you want the best teachers, you offer the highest salary and benefits. If you want cheap teachers, you end up like we are here in Texas, #48 on ACT college entrance scores. You get what you pay for.

Posted by: magnifco1000 | March 12, 2011 12:09 PM

"The legislation, which the Republican-led Wisconsin Senate approved on Wednesday, would eliminate most collective bargaining for public employees in the state. It would also prevent unions from requiring members to pay dues and stop unions from collecting dues with payroll reductions, as well as require state workers to pay more for their health care and pensions".
==========================================

Read the above and then tell me how this bill will destroy "civil right", "working class", "middle class" or "little people". How does eliminating automatic union dues deduction effect the little people? How does giving public service employees a choice whether to join the union or not effect the little people? And how does requiring that public service employees pay a portion of their health and pension effect the little people? Bargaining rights are still in effect for salaries. I guess it boils down to the medical/pension argument. Isn't that the issue that started the ball rolling. So, they've agreed to pay a portion of those benefits for now. Do you honestly think that the unions aren't going to go for the gold in the near future if those barganing rights are curtailed?

Posted by: bethg1841 | March 12, 2011 12:06 PM

"Gov (egged on by the GOP) signs trade deals to let good paying jobs go overseas so the few at the top can make even more money at the expense of middle class working people. (thus killing unions)"

Actually, it was Bill William Jefferson Clinton that signed these deals. He is a Democrat

Do you know who gave the banks a Trillion dollars with no oversight? Another Democrat, Barrack Hussein Obama. I guess that was George Bush's fault, eh?

You're so silly you don't understand the game that being played here.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 12:05 PM

We really have no idea what we're up against, do we ? And instead of actually seeking an understanding of what that is, we instead seek to use one disaster after the next in order to position ourselves in such ways as to improve the potential benefit to ourselves or our political party. And how foretunate we are that this "war" as stated in this article, provides plenty of future battles for us all to benefit from - as our version of Rome's Democracy continues to burn, perhaps somehow as a result of the will of the people themselves. Just an observation.

Posted by: jralger | March 12, 2011 12:04 PM

Walker did the right thing, but was unable to get the argument framed correctly.

All the media coverage was about "collective bargaining rights". What about the collective bargaining rights of the taxpayer, who weren't represented by the administration prior to Walker?

The fact is that unions aren't needed in government service. The benefits should be determined by the market, not a few legislators and union power brokers.

Posted by: postfan1 | March 12, 2011 12:03 PM

"Excuse me, but you call this winning? I call it cheating the process. I call it strong-arming. I call it anti-democratic."

Yet you had no problem with how the Obamacare bill was passed.

I guess your high principles only come into play when the result isn't what you like.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 12:00 PM

"The legislation, which the Republican-led Wisconsin Senate approved on Wednesday, would eliminate most collective bargaining for public employees in the state. It would also prevent unions from requiring members to pay dues and stop unions from collecting dues with payroll reductions, as well as require state workers to pay more for their health care and pensions".

Read the above and then tell me how this bill will destroy "civil rights", "working class", "middle class" or "little people". How does eliminating automatic union dues deduction effect the little people? How does giving public service employees a choice whether to join the union or not effect the little people? And how does requiring that public service employees pay a portion of their health and pension effect the little people? Bargaining rights are still in effect for salaries. I guess it boils down to the medical/pension argument. Isn't that the issue that started the ball rolling. So, they've agreed to pay a portion of those benefits for now. Do you honestly think that the unions aren't going to go for the gold in the near future if those barganing rights are not curtailed?

I'm sorry, this issue is not a disaster. The earthquake in Japan falls into that category.

Posted by: bethg1841 | March 12, 2011 12:00 PM

Union or not, the problem is the disintegration of public education. Already a field with very high turnover that attracts the lower third of academic performers into Teacher Colleges to begin with, it's only bound to get worse. Republican solutions don't help either. Private schools are much more expensive then public ones, so even with vouchers, parents have to make up a difference costing thousands for tuition. As for rewarding the best teachers to stay, with a turnover of 50% already within the first 3 years of starting teaching, already the best teachers are leaving in droves. So union or not, only by paying teachers properly to begin with can education be improved. Otherwise, everybody who can will choose other fields like business and law.

Posted by: magnifco1000 | March 12, 2011 11:59 AM

What stood out at yesterdays news conference was that the Pin Head pundits did not pose a question to Obama about the turmoil during the past 2 weeks in Wisconsin. Also the fact that Obama himself did not even utter a statement about sensiability winning out over Liberal assinine behavior.

Posted by: petethegreek35 | March 12, 2011 11:57 AM

"Leadership is about trade-offs"

Really? I thought leadership is about vision, communication and inspiration. Today's government is such a mess because officials trade first and never lead.

Gov. Walker has a worthwhile vision, but the Democrats have won the communication battle. The Governor must demonstrate positive results. Walker now needs to convey benefits to the good people of Wisconsin (including it's state employees) every time a service is saved by this action, every time a tax increase is avoided, every time a good employee is retained over a bad senior employee.

Posted by: FutureView2010 | March 12, 2011 11:54 AM

Your biggest problem is the fact that people are paying attention to what's going on, now.
It's becoming clear who the reals culprits are, even to those with their heads in the sand.
The public sector unions bought Obama's presidency.
He payed them back with hundreds of billions of the tax payers dollars.
They are using the money not to finance their pensions and health care, but to protest against the citizen leaders, who are just protecting their electorate from even more theft at the hands of these thugs.
Barry has to be a little upset that they are using so much of his money to rail on conservatives, when they should be saving it to give back to him when he runs for re-election.
After all, that was the plan. I'm sure Barry has to asking himself whether he can get away with slipping them another 100 billion or so, under the guise of some sort of stimulus

I guess the uprising from the people last November threw a wrench in the works, eh?
More people are waking up to what you idiots are doing every day.
It's only a matter of time before your entire world of delusion crumbles down around you.
If you think Wisconsin was tough, just wait until after 2012.
The goal should be to continue the de-unionization movement in the states, and to rescind executive order 10988, on Jan 20th, 2013

You'll all be threatening to move to France, again.

Will you please go this time?

Posted by: MrMeaner | March 12, 2011 11:45 AM

Intransigence and arrogance usually stimulates the people on the receiving end of the hubris. Walker ignited his foes like a Roman Candle. He will pay for his failure. He stubbornly refused to recognize that his election had less to do with his philosophy than the fact his constituents were hurting from unemployment. Walker will pay. He will most certainly pay.

Posted by: waztec | March 12, 2011 11:39 AM

This is what is known as a "pyrrhic victory".

Posted by: vnelsonus | March 12, 2011 11:34 AM

Excuse me, but you call this winning? I call it cheating the process. I call it strong-arming. I call it anti-democratic.

In a democracy, elected officials are supposed to represent the concerns of their entire constituency. For the governor, that means everyone in the state. How often do tens of thousands demonstrate for three weeks in the winter cold?

Tell me how this method of ruling (because it sure can't be called governing) makes our democracy healthier and more vital.

And by the way, how much have elected officials decided to sacrifice themselves? Here in PA, while state congressionals have proposed gutting public education at all levels, reducing salaries for civil servants, and freezing the salaries of their own staffs, we learn that the Congressionals have given themselves a raise. Oh, BUT, one is quoted in the newspaper saying, "Some of them are opting to donate that raise to charity."
Have they no shame?

Posted by: lxp19 | March 12, 2011 11:34 AM

I've been a member of a union since my first retail clerk job in college--except for a few years when I was in management and not eligible for membership (though I never officially resigned from the retail clerks union when I left my Safeway job). Now a professional with several advanced degrees--working in a federal agency--I value my union's support as much as I did in college. Silly as it may seem, at times, only the threat of a call to my union has helped me resolve such simple issues as reconciliation of errors in my time records.

When I was in management--I found the unions for state workers to have been a pivotal constructive force in reconciling complex personnel issues. Indeed, I recall one employee in our program who was the worst performer in the program--her performance was so bad that we were writing her up, and she was close to termination. During a meeting we had with her and her union--shortly after we laid out the performance problems we were dealing with, her union rep paused the meeting, took her aside and intervened with her. He explained that we were within our rights to terminate her for cause, that we had a rock solid record that documented problems with her work, and that she had to change her behavior and improve her performance or she would likely lose her job. Only her union rep was able to get through to her--all our meetings, feedback, write ups, were not trusted. After that meeting, she became one of my best employees--and outstanding worker in every way. She left her position for a job closer to home about 2 years later. I was very sad to see her go and proud of all she accomplished. And the take away lesson, collective bargaining helps everyone.

Gov Walker has yet to produce a credible rationale for eliminating collective bargaining for public employees. I hope he and his Republican colleagues pay the ultimate political price for the underhanded, dishonest way they rammed this bill down the throat of the citizens of Wisconsin. These Republican bullies and thugs deserve nothing less than to be thrown out of office as soon as possible, and I'm doing all I can from a distance to make that happen. This outrageous campaign is simply unAmerican.

Posted by: JamesDC | March 12, 2011 11:32 AM

Lets see..

Gov (egged on by the GOP) signs trade deals to let good paying jobs go overseas so the few at the top can make even more money at the expense of middle class working people. (thus killing unions)

Gov then bends over backwards to give tax incentives to big business to pring what jobs are left to their states (creating budget shortfalls)

GOP gives tax cuts to everyone but mostly to the rich at the same time, creating even bigger shortfalls)

GOP then blames unions, middle class people collecting penisons as the reason for the budget shortfalls...

That about sums it up and Walker's war on unions and middle class people will ensure the GOP's defeat. See you in 2012.

Posted by: dwdave67 | March 12, 2011 11:25 AM

Gov. Walker showed NO leadership. It takes no ability or leadership to craft a partisan bill and enact it. You only lead when you get people to do what they otherwise wouldn't do for the good of your state. This is a partisan rule that was unnecessary. Had he gotten the concessions he would have been a leader. He is just a partisan.

Posted by: baldinho | March 12, 2011 11:22 AM

Collective bargaining has not lead to the states deficits. Their own legislatures did. In good years most states failed to set aside the money they all agreed to in order to fund pensions. Here in CA we've already seen that you could lay off the whole state workforce and not even make a dent in the deficit. Demonizing state workers simply gives people an outlet for hate. Past union gains for their workers forced the private sector to up the ante for private workers, too. That somehow has been lost in this discussion. Collective bargaining was never about the budget for Walker. Otherwise, he would not have been able to pass his legislation, since it has no fiscal impact. It's obvious that the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us is widening. When will it stop? When the middle class can no longer attain the American Dream and are living under bridges so that the wealthy can make millions in profits while the rest of us scratch out a meager living? The Republican spending cuts at the state and federal level will not address the deficits. They are simply going after programs and people they don't agree with, those safety nets for the old, the children and the poor. Our jobs are outsouced overseas and the rich get richer, so let's give 'em a tax break. Where will it all end?

Posted by: mjohnson1116 | March 12, 2011 11:18 AM

IF AMERICANS ARE NOT AS STUPID AS I THINK THEY ARE THEY WILL RELIZE THAT THE republican PARTY IS NOT FOR 90% OF THEM, THEY WILL VOTE THEM OUT IN MASS IN THE COMING ELECTIONS. AGAIN I THINK THEY ARE TOO STUPID TO DO SO, AMERICANS ACTUALLY THINK republicans ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. AMERICANS ARE WRONG republicans DON'T CARE FOR WORKING PEOPLE AT ALL. WAKE UP YOU DUMB A--ES AND GET RID OF republicans ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Posted by: dgates1 | March 12, 2011 11:14 AM

wthaljr wrote "Scott Walker showed the other states how you bust a union. God bless Scott Walker"
------------------------------

I think the entity blessing Walker and those like him, resides in a warmer climate, as will those who proclaim their hero worship of him.

Virginia's Governor Wilder and Ronald Reagan broke unions decades ago -in The USA wages, benefits have fallen, In Virginia, wages have not kept pace with inflatin at a rate far greater than in the rest of the country.

Immediately after Wilder broke the coal miner's union, wages fell, benefits dried up and workers were shed at the state government level for the next thirty years and replaced with higher paid consultants - taxes, and spending to out of state corporations soared.

If there was ever an audit done that the public could see where their taxdollars now go, as opposed to pre-wilder, the wilder would be rightly reviled as the corporate stooge he has alays been.

Jefferson, and Fraklin both noted that the populace would freely abdicate their responsibilities, and give up their freedom, and whatever power they possess if someone promised them a shiny bauble.

Well, the shiny bauble is that, like crabs in a basket destined for the steamer, pulling those who escape back into the basket, people who have low wages, poor benefits, want those who have the courage to band together and fight for better, who have actually suceeded in making such gains, back into the smae misery -instead of taking their example and standing up to say-we don't want our children to be slaves, to work all their lives to enrich others with no gain, and wind up being impoverished elderly, lying on urine filled matresses, stewing in the excrement of unchanged diapers waiting to die in the wards of soem warehouse-converted -to-an-elderly-death-camp.

Such cretins deserve their fate-as do their offspring.

Posted by: maxtor0 | March 12, 2011 11:12 AM

Prairiepopulist1 Thanks for your comments...You are spot on. Virginia has a Governor and AG that are using emergency rules to govern woman's health care centers. Because they are emergency rules, they don't require public comment.

I wonder if they learned these techniques at the Koch seminar on governing where Supreme Court justices spoke....

Subtle means for diminishing the republic...

Posted by: jfristriut | March 12, 2011 11:11 AM

Prairiepopulist1 Thanks for your comments...You are spot on. Virginia has a Governor and AG that are using emergency rules to govern woman's health care centers. Because they are emergency rules, they don't require public comment.

I wonder if they learned these techniques at the Koch seminar on governing where Supreme Court justices spoke....

Subtle means for diminishing the republic...

Posted by: jfristriut | March 12, 2011 11:10 AM

I hope that everyone gets it real soon that the Republicans are creating Nazi Germany in America. Just read about what is going on:
1. In Texas, they voted to make it harder for everyone to vote except seniors and gun owners who vote Republican.
2. In Ohio, they voted to allow the governor to remove any office holder from office.
3. In Penna, they gave one person the ability to override any law around permits, even laws outside of his department.
4. In Florida, felons released from prison had their right to vote removed for 5 years, instead of 1 year.
5. In several states, union rights are being removed.
6. In Maryland, they just outlawed homosexuals.
7. And, in the State of Wisconsin, they are going to make it illegal for a student to use their student ID as identification to vote. Listen up - your children are being discriminated against.

I do hope everyone gets it real soon or we will be living under the rule of the 400 richest Nazis.

Posted by: DCguyme1 | March 12, 2011 11:04 AM

ecartr5 wrote "Unions are an anachronism from the early 20th century. Unions have no constructive role in the 21st century. Period."
--------------------------------

really? Tell us why--Instead of simply quoting anti-union propaganda fed to you by some corporate paid talking head.

Tell us how the same companies that raise the price of a common drug from 10 dollars a dose to 15 hundred dollars a dose is going to pay you a decent salary or benefits out of the goodness of their heart.

Tell us why so many are unemployed while fewer workers work harder to produce ever greater profits for less pay - if unions are unimportant.

Walker and his kind, politicians bought and paid for, put into office via corporate money, are not heros. They are no better than the Capo who extorts money, murders, sells drugs and pornography while living the protected life, free from police hassles by buying off the local police force and politicians.

Those who proclaim them to be heros are deluded, unable to see they are setting the stage for their childrens' future,a future of low wages, living in poverty at their parents home, lacking access to medicine and medical care. They are setting up their own future -unemployment, low wages, and no retirement, a future where poverty is the norm for the elderly.

They are like the french citizens who before world war II, demanded the army be reduced, demanded fewer weapons, fewer soldiers to safegard them, while the Germans built munition plants, trained their youth to be good little killing machines.

It's too late once power is given up to demand it's return, as so many found out when the walls came down, and the boots marched across their fields and into their homes bringing the helplessness, and lack of power face to face with those who believed it could not happen to them - they were surprised because decades of pro-german, pro-peace propaganda had conditioned them to think such things were impossible-unthinkable.

The news media is for the most part a corporate propaganda machine, and no one should ever forget that FOX news is owned and operated by one of the biggest corporate heads of all time, with the agenda set by him -Rupurt Murdoch.

IF one believes what is produced in that cat's den, then like the mice who honor a truce called by the cat and come to dinner, then like those mice they deserve to be the main course at that dinner.

Posted by: maxtor0 | March 12, 2011 10:57 AM

Scott Walker showed the other states how you bust a union. God bless Scott Walker

Posted by: wthaljr | March 12, 2011 10:48 AM

I am a union supporter, though I do believe that they have gone a bit overboard at times. Having said that, unionns provide a very important role in the country. Companies, without the weight of union power , would treat their empolyees like crap. Now, I live in a right to work state, and , if given the chance to join a union I wouldn't, only because I am doing fine without it. That isn't the case with certain types of jobs. Walker was never worried about the budget, or he wouldn't have given the tax credits to his big industry buddies. When you try to get your budget under control, you should take from everyone...cut the salaries of the Gov., the state officals, and cut back on their benefits, ( this would also work for the Federal Budget as well. I would like to see the Republicans take cuts in their healthcare, and pay before they try to cut President Obama's health plan, or federal funding for NPR). But, of course, it is more important to seek revenge on your opponents...

Posted by: bake2061 | March 12, 2011 10:38 AM

TINA11 Wrote "If the state workers don't want to do their job or do it well, they should be fired.
This is what happens in the private sector."

--------------------------

Not so.

Many workers are fired in the private sector for doing thier jobs -and being less than politically oriented to their employers politics, or for noticing theft by their employer from the grovernment, or for refusing to be a party to fraud, or for being the wrong race, the wrong religion, or the wrong gender. They are fired to make room for family members, for friends or for someone who will act like 2 +2 = 7 when billing some poor smuck who can't fight the charge.

Republicans have become the party of "you have no rights -no right to vote (unless you're gonna vote GOP) no right to an abortion, no right to healthcare, no right to unionize, no rights at all - we the GOP be your new massa -get used to it.

In the name of freedom, they take your freedom.

What is a "chamber of commerce" except a union of business leaders who's agenda is to control local and state government?

What is a corporation except a union of businesses whos agenda is to monopolize a market? Set labor rates? Set up political candidates and control federal and state politics? Set prices as high as possible while destroying competition?

How does an individual compete against such unions? They cannot.

The Constitution and the bill of rights recognizes the inherient inequity between the individual with few resources, and the government with unlimited resources, and sets limits on police power, on the power of the courts, and sets the burden of proof of guilt upon the legal system, rather then setting the burden of proving ones innocence upon the individual.

The same inequity exists between the corporations and the individuals, whether they are workers, or consumers, but against the corporation, there are no safegards, hence the existence of labor unions.

As corporate political power has waxed, the power of the labor union has waned.
Media is corporate owned, allowing unlimited anti-union propaganda. Corporate money has become the fulcrum upon which every election, local, state and federal is now balanced. Combined with the power of corporate owned media, there really is no contest -we elect who our corporate massa's demand. We live by their rules as politicians dismantle laws and organizations that are able to curtail their power, and useful stooges buy their propaganda hook, line and sinker.

We give up all our benefits while salaries within such organizations, and bonuses soar for the overseers.
Our wages fall while profits soar, while stocks rise, and crash- wiping out the smaller investor, golden pillows and parachutes keep the big players rolling in the money.

we accept greater tax burdens while such players pay ever less, our children die in wars to protect their assets, our elderly live in poverty after decades of assuring them their wealth. we are denied.

Posted by: maxtor0 | March 12, 2011 10:37 AM

Governor Walker is a hero to future generations. Someone of responsibility had to take on these mafia-like unions and say enough is enough. And yes, doing the right thing like he (and most of the Wisconsin legislature that had the guts to stand up and be counted) did is not always the most popular. Again, he had the guts to stand up to the thug like gangs who tried to occupy the capitol and rule with intimidation. Gov. Walker, the future generations of Americans WHO ACTUALLY WORK AND PAY TAXES thank you.

Posted by: tifoso1 | March 12, 2011 10:32 AM

It seems that those spewing the most hate and vitriol are not signing their real names, as are the police, etc. spokesmen. Have the courage to take credit for your comments.

Richard Sullivan

Posted by: rsully | March 12, 2011 10:26 AM

Union death threats will result in more anti-union laws. Count on it. Walker and the American people win, again, and again.

Unions are an anachronism from the early 20th century. Unions have no constructive role in the 21st century. Period.

Posted by: ecartr5 | March 12, 2011 10:26 AM

Superior and arrogant post, Chat2011.

Posted by: bethg1841 | March 12, 2011 10:25 AM

A quote from Jenny to Forrest in the movie Forrest Gump:

“Just, if you’re ever in trouble, don’t try to be brave, you just run, OK? Just run away.”

Wisconsin state Senate Democrats took Jenny's advice... they ran away to a hotel in Illinois and they lost.

Posted by: geo82170 | March 12, 2011 10:20 AM

"Public unions and their 'scratch my back I'll scratch yours' relationship with politicians is corrupt. Unions feather their beds while politicians buy their votes at the expense, as usual, of the tax paying public.

Who is representing the tax paying public in the union negotiations?"

The same must be said of the mega-campaign contributors. The underreported opportunity to "give away" without competitive bid, public assets in the budget bill is outrageous. The $114M ($140M) tax breaks for businesses from a basically balanced budget on the backs of the public sector workers. (They agreed to wage and benefit give backs.) Gov Walker walked away from an $800M high speed rail federal grant and will lose a rail car manufacturing plant in Milwaukee.

Then there was the faux Koch phone call that showed the hypocrisy of the whole campaign. Their goal has never been jobs, jobs; it has been government by the corporations and for the corporations who pay up.

Let me say it loud and clear, Gov Scott Walker is corrupt, massively corrupt. He and the GOP legislators have been bought by their campaign contributors both visible and hidden. Not the public unions. Watch my left hand while my right hand steals you blind.

Come the revolution (on the first Tuesday in November if the People can get their act together) when "When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the" Economic Bonds ...

Posted by: stanassc | March 12, 2011 10:18 AM

Walker is not a leader. He is a dictator.

Posted by: solsticebelle | March 12, 2011 10:18 AM

I have a lot of Republican friends at work. I make good friends with them because not many people take them seriously. They have their own way of thinkings. But they are fun to deal with. I can joke around with them, and they always thought I was serious. Other co-workers said I play with their minds. I know they like me because they need my help everyday at work. After 8 yrs, they change to some degrees. They are more opened to try news foods. One of them enjoyed the satisfaction of giving. But he over did it. People didn't pay back his money. He tried very hard about marriage, but now afraid after too many women left him. And some took advantage of him. The other one seemed to do less of asking people, "You are going to eat that?" He didn't want to spend money on food. So, he liked to wait to see if people didn't eat all of their foods, he then would ask, "You are going to eat that?" We tried to hide his stinky jacket. He has it for at least 10 years, but I don't think he ever wash it. He was mad. He said he has his own principle. His car has about a million hairs everywhere. They are from his dog, his wife, and himself. His shirt is full of dandruffs. I told my co-workers and my boss that I didn't want to share office with him because I didn't want his dandruffs to fly into my soap. He said when he and his wife die, they will give all of their money to the dog society. If you like the story, I'll post more about the other one.

Posted by: Chat2011 | March 12, 2011 10:13 AM

"Decades of research have shown that committed employees who are engaged in their jobs are far more productive and efficient--in other words, they cost less--than those who are not".
===========================================
Research would also show that unions make it almost impossible to fire an employee for lack of "productivity and efficiency" -- in other words -- you don't really have to do your job, but you DO have to pay those union dues.

Posted by: bethg1841 | March 12, 2011 10:10 AM

Those on the far left need to come to the realization that things are different now. Taxpaying Americans no longer are force fed tainted news by the big far left leaning networks. People are now able to get their news from MANY difference sources, and people see where the grand plans of the far left will take this country, which is to bankruptcy and collapse.

When you see someone like Michael Moore standing in the streets of WI telling people that the United States isn't broke and that reigning in union abuse is all just a grand plan of republicans to take from the poor and give to the rich, even the most clueless among us know that to be false.

We're in new times. Responsibility, honesty, respect, personal accountability are all coming back in style, and that leaves those on the far left with nowhere to go because as a group they adhere to none of these principles.

Unions, much like the far left ideology and money for nothing are a thing of the past and they will fade away and be relegated to the dust bin of history.

Posted by: SayWhat5 | March 12, 2011 9:56 AM

Quote from Senator Obama in 2006,

"the voters are indeed "tired of a Washington that's only open to those with the most cash and the right connections."

Now we learn the Obama administration has issues 111 ObamaCare waivers to unions and corporations who have donated to the Democratic National Committee.

Leadership is about trade-offs, Walker had the courage to do the right thing.

" That's a nice business you got there. Pity if anything were to happen to it if, say, you didn't toe the line and denounce Governor Walker like we're asking nice-like.
March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL
Dear Mr. Ellis:
As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget
adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in
Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for
office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest
contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor
Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in
Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this
request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not
respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with
Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters,
and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining,
please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the
goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will
do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to
preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table.
Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and
fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that
ideal.

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the
executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer,
at 608.273.3840.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from
you soon.

Note the spelling...like "Prersident" for the Union Thug Donut Jockey .....This is Liberalism's Elite at their best and most engaged......

....being Tax Fed antiAmerican Pigs

Posted by: georgedixon1 | March 12, 2011 9:47 AM

This has nothing to do with the "little people" or "middle class". I'm really getting fed up with the left-wing propaganda using loss of "civil rights" or "loss of freedom", "middle class" and "little people". They haven't lost any of their civil rights or freedoms. This is all about union influence and bloated benefit packages. They have to make a decision whether they want to join a union. Big deal. And they have to write that union dues check if they decide to join a union rather than have the state do it for them, which to me is a conflict of interest when you put union dues on the same level with ss and fica. Oh, the inhumanity. And, they have to pay a portion of their medical/pension benfits. Big whoop. They still have bargaining power with their salaries. This whole argument is a smokescreen. Strictly political and an effort to maintain union and left-wing power in the states. So, the public service employees agreed to pay a portion of their medical/pension packages for now. If the bargaining power of the unions aren't curtailed, you'd better believe that they have plans to go for the gold again in the near future. WI will be back to square one and the residents will questioning state officials why their state is broke. Of course, we could always do what IL is doing. Raise taxes substantially on ALL residents in order to support the unions.

Posted by: bethg1841 | March 12, 2011 9:46 AM

If the union already agreed to the cuts that you proposed, how does that make them "thugs"? Once they agreed to your cuts, the debate should've been over. Some people will always fall for propaganda, but many will not. This isn't going to weaken the resolve of the labor movement.

Posted by: nsu1203 | March 12, 2011 9:34 AM

When unions are finally broken we will only have corrupt business scratching the backs of the politicians. The cost to the public will be enormous.

Posted by: Maddogg | March 12, 2011 9:23 AM

I wish Obama could stand on principle.

Posted by: Maddogg | March 12, 2011 9:19 AM

Public unions and their 'scratch my back I'll scratch yours' relationship with politicians is corrupt. Unions feather their beds while politicians buy their votes at the expense, as usual, of the tax paying public.

Who is representing the tax paying public in the union negoitiations?

Posted by: twann9852 | March 12, 2011 9:16 AM

At election time you'll see who actually is behind Walker, and they won't have to disclose who they voted for! I'm sure there are more taxpayers than union members and they're going to vote for THEIR BEST INTEREST, which means keeping their PROPERTY TAX DOWN!!! Do you people REALLY think you're THAT INDISPENSABLE that homeowners are going to be taxed out of THEIR HOMES to finance YOUR LIFESTYLE? If you believe THAT, you REALLY ARE delusional!!!! I hope the same thing takes place in IOWA!!!!!!

Posted by: slamming | March 12, 2011 9:13 AM

Wow - all the references to "union thugs" in this thread. It's almost as if people can't say one without the other. Have any of you actually BEEN to the Wisconsin protests? Families, firefighters, teachers, prison guards, park rangers... the list goes on, but there are no thugs here. It's fascinating to me how some people can spin out a fantasy based on their preconceptions rather than listening to their fellow citizens to talk about the problem. This is not a budget problem (the unions agreed to those concessions WEEKS ago). It's a rights problem. EVERYONE (not just state employees) should have the right to join together in a union so they can argue for their rights TOGETHER with others. Without that right big businesses or big governments can trample on all of us. Workers are not parasites - we're the engine that keeps the economy running, and we all (private and public) deserve fair pay, decent benefits, and security in our jobs, especially when we perform them well.

Posted by: rbtrebor | March 12, 2011 9:13 AM

"The abuse is not confined to teachers. It is sanitation workers, toll collectors, firemen and police to name a few job types that abuse the pension system by working large amounts of overtime, in their final year of work before retirement, with the help of their friends, who refuse the overtime work, so that the retiree may collect a pension that exceeds their base pay while they were working for the entire lives without working."

And this is what years of Fox news, Rush L. and company have produced. What we saw at the rallies were electricians, teachers, educators, scientists, janitors, pilots, taxi drivers, Professors, steels workers... the middle class. They, apparently are all corrupt and overpaid, and they do not work! I wonder how the country has been managing all these years. But it is now cool to hate them all, to accuse them of robbery and abuses, they are the elite, the powerful that takes away the money from the others. Wall street, large corporations and their fiasco is all forgotten, now we know who brought America down. What a sad, sad state of affairs in this country. America will collapse and the pitting of people against people will be the cause. In times of deep crisis we need everyone united to struggle the way out, and there is no chance this will happen in the US.

Posted by: maribeff | March 12, 2011 9:09 AM

I see this as a viral game being played at the expense of all working middle and lower class.

I would be telling the president to cut off all federal aid to Republican States.

Because it is the federal government that oversees the constitution that guarantees the safety and well being of its citizens, Ban hand guns. The Second Amendment does not guarantee what type of gun and the government can propose this as a national security issue that threatens government officials.

Enact a federal voting cards for everyone 18 and above for all citizens of the US.

This would move the "don't take mine, old fart crowd" out of the main stream. This would level the playing field.

Anyone caught intimidating a voter will be imprisoned for 50 years, no parole.

Raise taxes on the rich, Warren Buffet has told American morons on the right that the GOP is lying to its dumb voters. The rich got you brainwashed! Just stop voting and hand your paycheck to them if you feel the greedy need money.

Posted by: rbraun2000 | March 12, 2011 9:07 AM

EDWARDALLEN54, MJANDREWS8, and others here seem to think that Gov. Walker is simply fulfilling a campaign promise here. This is not true. An extensive analysis of everything Walker said during the campaign was put together by Politifact (http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/feb/22/scott-walker/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-says-he-campaigned-his-/). He never said he wanted to curtail bargaining rights of public unions. This was a surprise to the people of Wisconsin, and that's why his political future is in the tank. We recognize there is a budget problem, but we (the vast middle class in Wisconsin) also know that it wasn't caused by teachers, firefighters, plow drivers, or other state employees. It was caused by the recession, which, in turn, was caused by MASSIVE fraud on Wall Street. So in our nice midwestern way, we're a bit ticked off that Walker (and folks on this comment thread) are blaming middle class workers for a problem we didn't cause.

Posted by: rbtrebor | March 12, 2011 9:06 AM

"Don't you people have anyhing else to do like destroying benefits for the poor?"

Public work jobs are a bit of charity by themselves. The fact that they can hold the taxpayer hostage is criminal.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 8:56 AM

I thought Bush was crazy.. just like I think Walker might be crazy.. but now I see Obama doing the same thing Bush has done; instead of big oil, it's big unions, instead of closing Gitmo he keeps it open, where Obama has done much better than Bush is spending..
By comparison, from the day Mr. Obama took office last year to the end of the current fiscal year, according to the Office of Management and Budget, the debt held by the public will grow by $3.3 trillion. In 20 months, Mr. Obama will add as much debt as Mr. Bush ran up in eight years.

THEY ALL HAVE TO GO AND A BALANCED AGENDA WITH NO BS SPENDING such as Cocaine for Monkeys or studying of freshmen college girls who drink are more likely to 'hook up' for christ sake.. it's crazy. Pushing for Obamacare then reading what it will take to implement and they get waivers to opt out..

Let us briefly review the rapidly growing rolls of companies, unions, and states bursting out of the Obamacare escape hatch.

In early September, I noted the push by Obamacare promoter and Democrat Rep. Ron Wyden for a special state waiver from the very federal mandate he advocated for everyone else.

A few weeks later, McDonald’s finagled its own Obamacare waiver after warning federal regulators that it could be forced to drop its affordable health insurance plan for nearly 30,000 restaurant workers unless it got a pass.

In early October, the Obama administration announced it had granted waivers not only to McDonald’s, but also to several other firms and labor unions.

Now comes word that Torquemada HHS Secretay Kathleen Sebelius has approved a whopping 111 waivers for businesses of all sizes, along with more unions and other providers of health insurance. The escapees include employers of many low-wage and part-time workers whose health insurance plans would otherwise be dropped, including Darden Restaurants — the parent company of the Olive Garden and Red Lobster and other chains, which employ some 34,000 people.

Posted by: redsky28 | March 12, 2011 8:53 AM

Simple summary: Support the duly elected legislatures and the governor and you support democracy in action! Support the unions, and you support a minority group that is vocal and intimidating, and will cost the average WI taxpayer....
the word "anarchic" comes to mind, as defined by the dictionary: ..."Lacking control or order..."
"Anarchy" is defined as "...absence of any form of political authority..."
The taxpayer wins when the governor controls....that's what he was elected to do!

Posted by: SeniorVet | March 12, 2011 8:48 AM

"A small man in a very big job that was going to fail from the very start of his term."
=================
Obama?

Cute answer from a another small Republican. Don't you people have anyhing else to do like destroying benefits for the poor? Or maybe bringing back Jim Crow?

Posted by: piemcj | March 12, 2011 8:41 AM

"A small man in a very big job that was going to fail from the very start of his term."
=================

Obama?

Posted by: tina11 | March 12, 2011 8:36 AM

"Decades of research have shown that committed employees who are engaged in their jobs are far more productive and efficient--in other words, they cost less--than those who are not."

If the state workers don't want to do their job or do it well, they should be fired.

This is what happens in the private sector.

Posted by: tina11 | March 12, 2011 8:32 AM

Politicians, bought and paid for by bu$iNe$$ intere$T$, $hould be arre$ted, charged with corruption and face the death penalty because animals like them cause more death and misery than even the most prolific serial killer.
They are not doing the job they were elected to do, but the job thier private employers pay them to do - Give them a fair trial, and then a fair, public execution

Posted by: maxtor0 | March 12, 2011 8:30 AM

Walker has done an outstanding job. He has released the state of Wisconsin from the gripes of Union thugs and crooks. Whether it is temporary or not only time will tell. The unions and their members have shown themselves for what they are. Greedy thugs who will do anything to hold onto the grip they have on the taxpayers and political power. Wages are easy to control. It is the benefits, primarily excessive and abusive pensions that are driving most states into bankruptcy. If the newspapers around the country were not so blind to the unions because they support them, they would write stories about pension abuse every day until the situation was corrected.
The abuse is not confined to teachers. It is sanitation workers, toll collectors, firemen and police to name a few job types that abuse the pension system by working large amounts of overtime, in their final year of work before retirement, with the help of their friends, who refuse the overtime work, so that the retiree may collect a pension that exceeds their base pay while they were working for the entire lives without working. That is what collective bargaining has done to the taxpayer. It has screwed the taxpayer beyond belief and the unions are trying to keep it a secret.

Posted by: nychap44 | March 12, 2011 8:24 AM

Gov. Walker and people of his ilk will not be happy until the "little people" the middle class have been returned to indentured servitude. That's what were heading toward people. It's a shame what this man was allowed to do. I hope that this is his only term in office and/or he is recalled. He NEEDS TO GO AND SOON!!!! before more damage is done.

Posted by: carreg25 | March 12, 2011 8:17 AM

"Based on what I've heard, Recalls have been filed on several Senators and Walker is next."

This is like somebody threating a lawsuit. A lot of empty talk. The people in Wisconsin are thrilled and if Walker accomplishes nothing else, he will have put Wisconsin on a far more stable financial footing for the next generation.

The reality of the new world is that the Japanese car companies have come to the United States, are not unionized, and the workers are treated far better, and are far more productive than the unionized shops, which destroyed GM & Chrysler (and almost crushed Ford, except they had better leadership).

Also, you realize that your unions, the ones you lionize are less concerned with you than with getting union dues from the emerging 3rd world? They understand there is little to fight for in the United States, and the tide is against them, but the lure of union dues from these far-away places is what calls to them.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 8:17 AM

No, he won't. What has been going on in wisconsin is union-busting in its purest form. Based on what I've heard, Recalls have been filed on several Senators and Walker is next.

Posted by: dsteimle | March 12, 2011 7:56 AM

This issue will probably recede over a short period of time. The majority of people in this country will not rally around unions. The only place they have any pull is in public service jobs and that is only because Democrats and Republicans want their money at election time. Most of the rest of us remember how they blackmailed companies for larger than deserved pay and benefits. That is a large reason why blue collar jobs are being driven overseas. Also the selfish CEOs are to blame as well, to be fair. Now the costs of these cannot be made. It's that simple.

Posted by: emurphy222000 | March 12, 2011 7:56 AM

"So, instead of negotiating one contract for 25,000 teachers, school administrators across Wisconsin will have to negotiate 25,000 individual contracts. Is this suppose to save money? Or be efficient? What about all the other state employees?"

You're very confused. The way it works, like every other job, including federal job is that categories of jobs will be created, along with associated work and compensation rules.

This is precisely how the majority of professionals in the united states get paid.

Budgets will be able to be passed without 18 months of negotiating with a union. The state will be forced to pay a competitive wage with benefits or else they'll lose workers to states with better wages, benefits or working conditions.

What you'll find is the really good teachers will make more money, the mediocre teachers less, and the terrible teachers will quickly find themselves unemployed in Wisconsin.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 7:52 AM

A small man in a very big job that was going to fail from the very start of his term.

Posted by: piemcj | March 12, 2011 7:51 AM

What a silly, misguided question: this *was* the war. Its over. Done.

People forget the primary people served by government are the people who pay for everything.

*The buyer is always right*.

I think most of you are confused about something: a government can only pay what it takes in. To be infinitely kind requires infinite money, and neither Wisconsin nor any other state have infinite money.

We're hip-deep in a recession and budgets have to be cut. People who benefit from government transfer will have less. They will suffer. That's the way it goes.

Posted by: Ombudsman1 | March 12, 2011 7:46 AM

Lefty lib friends...only 12% of American workers are unionized. That will continue to decrease especially for PUBLIC employees who are paid by taxpayers. If you think unions are so great, I'd like to see a march on Washington to support unionizing the military. After all, they deserve to be treated fairly too. And when they are not, they can go on strike. Public employees will eventually lose all unions...the trend is set in Wisconsin and spreading like wildfire...get used to it.

Posted by: powerange | March 12, 2011 7:37 AM

How about a focus on the leadership of the opposition to Walker including threats made to businesses AND not the least 18 GOP legislators receiving death threats? Hey smiling Jena McGregor how about giving us the real story instead the world according to the hopelessly liberal Pearlstein.

Posted by: hz9604 | March 12, 2011 7:36 AM

Recalling walker will send the message that real patriotic freedom loving American working people are not going to be treated like slaves. It would not provide immediate relief from this tyranny, but it will set the stage for 2012 when WI sweeps out the garbage that the tea baggers threw into their capital building. (tea baggers -- this is called a literary device. T)

Posted by: John1263 | March 12, 2011 7:13 AM

I support Governor and oppose public employee unions. I came to USA in 1962 and lived in Beloit, Wis. for about 10 years. At that time teachers and other public employees were paid less than private employees. Now public employees are paid more and have job safety and private employees who pay salaries of public employees get paid less and have no job safety and have no say in determining piblic employees' salaries. Teachers are getting paid more and teaching less.

Posted by: rddynar | March 12, 2011 7:08 AM

The recall motions are already starting. Find out who to donate to if you love freedom and America and working people. Send a clear message by helping the good people of Wisconsin fix this eggregious mistake who is soiling their state as soon as legally possible.

And across the nation - republicons got elected on a platform of how much better they would be at producing jobs. Of course the recovery efforts of the past 2 years have already been producing jobs steadily for over 18 months, and the republicons are actually doing plenty to undermine that.

What they REALLY want is to gut the middle class. And if you have children, grandchildren or are in university yourslef, you know firsthand that the republicons want to destroy the ability of the middle class and the poor to get a decent education. It is evident in their House budget, and really clear at the state level. Here in PA the governor wants to cut 1 billion from the state budget. Almost every nickle comes from public schools and public universities. At the same time he refuses to even consider a modest tax on the natural gas industry that is extracting the wealth that belongs to the citizens of PA without paying anything to the state. He claims it will hurt the industry or that they will not come here -- really? WHat are they going to do, maKE THE NATURAL GAS POCKETS MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE? republicons are against 98% of the nation. Period. If you work for a living they want you suppressed so your boss can use you like a wage slave.

Posted by: John1263 | March 12, 2011 7:07 AM

And remember in our take over of the white house park and many streets leading into it we THE TEA PARTY left the place cleaner than we found it after three days.You Big Union thugs who work so hard and have more people per each shovel than a normal man would be able to use Left your arrogant way you take care of mess not me iam a Big Union guy Well 7 million dollars just another sight we see as your heads to big and we the TEA PARTY have to collar you we will at some time let you off the leash but fir now you got out of control.So sit down and relax i dont want to here any barking.Tell obama he has to go by himself this time

Posted by: Hu10 | March 12, 2011 7:00 AM

We have all been living on debt for too long. It must change or else you can start using Federal Reserve notes instead of toilet paper.

Posted by: hz9604 | March 12, 2011 6:54 AM

WELL WELL he ran on it got the vote and it is out of control,Why do you hate you are just like the SS,KKK,Jessy Jackson,AL sharp ton theses are money hunters and chasers they don't care at all your cause.Well Well the majority believe it.And do not want this state wide so obama and his lieing thugs may have started this for there own good but The TEA PARTY has the Sack on this hunt and you lost Period.

Posted by: Hu10 | March 12, 2011 6:51 AM

What was the name of this bill? Oh yes, "the budget repair bill" that has nothing to do with repairing anything or having to do with the budget. Call it what it is "the destruction of unions bill".

Posted by: timothy2me | March 12, 2011 6:40 AM

"But it also leaves him with a workforce that's likely to be disillusioned and unmotivated, which doesn't help the taxpayer either."

---------------------------------------------------

How wrong can you be? Just wait until union dues start showing up in their paychecks, they will be thanking Governor Walker and asking what took so long. This is what the union thugs were most afraid of.

Posted by: VastRightWingConspirator | March 12, 2011 6:33 AM

Republicans have been doing everything sub-humanly possible to make this economy crash and burn in the hopes of gaining an advantage in 2012. They definitely deserve the "Terrorist of the Year" Award for their despicable efforts. And now Scott Walker becomes the new poster boy for the American Nazi Party. God (no, NOT the GOP God of the "Allmighty Dollar") help us all.

Posted by: Bushwhacked1 | March 12, 2011 5:49 AM

Well, the tradeoff for the governor seems clear--loss of public sector jobs and ensuing demoralization that costs productivity versus replacement private sector jobs. Union supporters around the country may well boycott tourist travel to Wisconsin and eating Wisconsin cheese. Will such a boycott help? Probably not in the short run but in the long run the Wisconsin economy will suffer, leaving the Republican governor and legislators short of the jobs they promised to produce, short of the public services Wisconsin citizens have grown used to enjoy, and therefore vulnerable to decimation at the polls. The Democrats can then restore union rights and take credit for making go away all the misery caused by the Republicans. But meanwhile what a needless mess--demonstrating once more that ideology in the short run trumps the facts most of the time.

Posted by: JackN | March 12, 2011 4:56 AM

Repub are afraid of:

* A dramatically improved quality of life for all americans

* Jobs Jobs Jobs for americans

* New USA industry thus new wealth for america

* New cleaner energy sources because it would create so many new jobs

* Improved Medicare Insurance for All = huge tax dollar savings to government

* Face it dramatically improved quality of life for all WOULD keep them out of control for decades.

BRING ON THE EMPLOYMENT = THE GREATEST REPUBLICAN FEAR ON EARTH!!!

Posted by: rheckler2002 | March 12, 2011 2:44 AM

Like so many other middle Americans who see what has happened in WI as an income war, the sands of opinion are changing.

No society has survived that financially ruins the middle income earners for the sake of helping the wealthy.

The next election may well see the GOP relegated to oblivion as a result of their ideological and corporatist views.

Posted by: valkayec | March 12, 2011 2:16 AM

Walker will pay a long and painful price for what he's done to the middle-class of America in the last 30 days. Watch and laugh...

Posted by: rbaldwin2 | March 12, 2011 1:34 AM

So, instead of negotiating one contract for 25,000 teachers, school administrators across Wisconsin will have to negotiate 25,000 individual contracts. Is this suppose to save money? Or be efficient? What about all the other state employees?

This just doesn't seem to make sense. It makes me wonder if this is a red herring to distract attention from other unsavory things.

Posted by: CWM2 | March 12, 2011 1:31 AM

FDR openly opposed bargaining rights for government unions.

"The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service," Roosevelt wrote in 1937 to the National Federation of Federal Employees.

"I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place" in the public sector. "A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government."

I just don't know if or where these union bashers went to school. Do they actually believe America is better off with 100's of million's of workers earning poverty wages and benefits? Just because private corporations have gutted the manufacturing sector, sent their jobs off shore, destroyed unions and living wages for most workers, do these people actually believe the public sector (the last vestage of middle class jobs) should also be crippled? These union haters probably went to public schools (but unfortunately didn't pay attention in class) because their parents and grandparents (probably union members or supporters) made the sacrifices so their children and grandchildren could have a "free" decent education. America's socioeconomic rush to the bottom is accelerating. Our children and grandchildren must have the same educational and economic advantages we had, if America is to have any hope of competing with the rest of the world. Yes we have all read about some abuses in the public pension system. But they are the exception, not the rule. Elected public officials must sit down with worker's representatives collectively to correct those abuses and solve their budget problems; and not run roughshod over folks just trying to survive and support their families. Please read your kids history books. The assent of the unions built America's middle class from the ground up. Todays socalled Republican party want's to return America to the days of the "Robber Barons." Check out PBS's "American Experience" special on the Triangle Shirt Waist factory and the valiant struggle of those courageous women. Eisenhower, Nixon and even Ronald Regan would be shocked at the greed, arrogance, vindictiveness and shortsightedness of todays GOP. God help us all.

Posted by: readsome5 | March 12, 2011 12:30 AM

Well, Wisconsin, I hope you like what you got 'cuz that's what you voted for when you elected these cretins.

Maybe you need to be a little bit more careful next time. Can't say you weren't warned.

Oh, yeah, and Fox News. Much as I abhor Fox News, it wouldn't exist if the market to support it weren't out there.

So, keep reading the propaganda. Keep voting for Republicans. But don't be surprised at what you get.

Good luck!

Posted by: TheWizard1 | March 12, 2011 12:28 AM

Oh by the way........you would think liberals would be applauding the way Scott Walker split the budget bill and passed the union busting part seperately. It reminded me of an Obama/Rahm Emanuel Chicagoland style tactic. I am so proud of Scott Walker for standing up for middle class taxpayers while sticking it in the left's face using their own modus operandi. I love it.

Posted by: wthaljr | March 11, 2011 11:57 PM

I think Walker wins the battle...and the war. Most people do not have union gov't jobs and are tired of paying taxes so a few can have the benefits. Of course the press provides no inquiry, but it seems that most of the protesters were students and rabble rousers; few of them looked like people who actually had a job.

Posted by: Josiahtx | March 11, 2011 11:47 PM

So, you say want to recall Scott Walker? In the words of our Organizer in Chief Obama: "Go for it". Scott Walker may as well be Eliot Ness because he is untouchable until January 2012 at the earliest. Also, 8 republican senators would have to be recalled and replaced with candidates who would vote against the budget repair bill. Yeah, good luck with that. If you want to recall something recall Obama's nobel peace prize, he hasnt created a lick of peace anywhere in the world.

Posted by: wthaljr | March 11, 2011 11:44 PM

Had the union been unwilling to negotiate, Walker might have been justified to go the route he chose. That, however, wasn't the case and now a gigantic can of worms has been opened. I find it disturbing that union and management are able to come to the table to resolve their differences yet the government wants to dismantle them for the ability to successfully negotiate. Sure seems like the government does not want to resolve anything, but rather dictate for the sake of...what? Scary thought.

Posted by: declutterbug | March 11, 2011 11:33 PM

So when it is all said and done what makes what Walker and the Rebulicans did any different than the way the Democrats forced through Obama care? Did the Rebulicans run and hide NO they stayed and voted NO!If this turns out to be the wrong answer then Wisconson can vote them out next time it is called Democracy!To corn a Fraze ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.The problem is the Democrats can not stand not being in power.

Posted by: freedon | March 11, 2011 11:29 PM

Long time Democrat...loving Scott Walker just as I love Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee...

Keep it up guys! maybe the ignorant and uneducated will get what's happening before the Rethuglicans ship every job in America off to some country where they pay $0.10 per hour. The latest Walker moves demonstrate just how much the GOP does not care about ordinary people...only about making rich people richer... Wicked good for democrats

Posted by: CalifObserver | March 11, 2011 10:57 PM

Wisconsin produces a nincompoop politician once every few decades. The people seem to short memories about how stupid and destructive Joe McCarthy was; careers ended, lives ruined because Joe acted like Hitler and Stlain combined. Walker does not care about "negotiating" neither does he care about Wisconsin's people's opinions. Walker is set for life by the Koch bros; he can be recalled tomorrow and he'll still have a comfortable existence. His father is set for life, his entire family. Walker's mission has been accomplished: destroy the unions, reduce the middle class to begging, humiliate the Democrats and give corporations their due. Wisconsin is too dumb to have elected Walker and the Republicans.

Posted by: mstratas | March 11, 2011 10:49 PM

This Just In from http://www.wausaudailyherald.com

18 Republican senators received a death threats following their votes to eliminate most collective bargaining powers for public workers.

Posted by: geo82170 | March 11, 2011 10:47 PM

Clearly, Citizens are winning the war against public service employees unions who are plundering our treasuries. The first domino falls, there are more to come.

Democrats, fascists and fellow socialists will find out that American citizens will not tolerate the tyranny of union thugs and "progressives." Period.

Posted by: ecartr5 | March 11, 2011 10:45 PM

Local, state and federal government workers are just parasitic pussbags. Soon the we will be paying tax to sh!t to pay for these outrageous government benefits not to mention all the freebees given to the takers

Posted by: goziner | March 11, 2011 10:11 PM

UNIONS THREATEN BUSINESS:

Union letter to Wisc. Businesses....

"...In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining,
please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the
goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will
do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership...

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the
executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer,at 608.273.3840."

Give Ol' Jim Palmer a call to discuss.

http://bit.ly/e6Ya5l

Posted by: ChangeWhat | March 11, 2011 10:07 PM

This governor is deluded enough to think he's going down in history book as the second coming of Ronald Reagan. Unfortunately for him the reality couldn't be more different. He had to separate his union-busting proposal from the budget bill in order to pass it. So it is plain to see for everyone he's exacting a political vendetta. He is an idiot. Nothing could be further from the situation Ronald Reagan was confronted with, namely an illegal strike. Reagan never tried to bust a union or otherwise abrogate the rights of the traffic comptrolers.

Posted by: RegisUrgel | March 11, 2011 10:06 PM

I think whether republican or democrat the way the events have been carried out in Wisconsin have been wrong. There is a complete lack of trust on the democrat's side of this, and now after "the maneuver," this lack seems justified by the 14. Governor Walker showed no faith in his leadership or anyone else's.

I know union's have been unreasonable at times, but without organized labor this country would not have been the envy of the world in the 20th century. Unions have been good for every day people to have peace of the American dream. It's too bad it seems like a pretty transparent power grab after the revelations of the past week.

Now, it's going to ultimately fail. These actions have mobilized a sleeping force, which is hungry and more than ready to fight back. This is the beginning, and it could get pretty ugly.

Posted by: moonracer | March 11, 2011 10:03 PM

There is no doubt that Walker is really bad news for Wisconsin. Six weeks in office and he has riled up Badgers in ways I've never seem them riled. I think he should and will be recalled. It is also the case that some of the state's professional unions are internally weak: collecting substantial annual dues ($500)while providing only modest support. Those who dislike the union have to pay a 'representation fee' and deeply resent it. I think Walker and the Republicans caught on to this disconnect and are using it to their advantage - it will be VERY hard to restore the union status quo ante once Walker is out of office. It is also the case that unions here were mostly about rationalizing the workplace - and were too politically weak to have any captive politicians in their pockets - slavishly doling out wage increases - the last Gov - a Democrat - cut wages three percent. It's a pity there isn't a little more insight into these matters.

Posted by: enelson1 | March 11, 2011 10:03 PM

Now I have a much better idea what it must have been like to be a member of the Reichstag in the 1930s.

Posted by: DCNative41 | March 11, 2011 9:48 PM

Republicans, all of them have now been outed. Not just in Wisconsin, but everywhere. they are all the same, sing from the same talking points, and now , everyone who works for a living knows exactly what they are about- as if it weren't obvious before.

Posted by: staussfamily | March 11, 2011 9:43 PM

The same people who fought tooth and nail to protect Wall Street bonuses and millionaire tax rates have brought us this bait and switch union busting. The Middle Class needs to get smart and fight back. I've made my donation to the recall tonight.

Posted by: ppeoples | March 11, 2011 9:14 PM

Walker just handed the Democrats a huge political bonanza by his vicious, underhanded attack on public service workers. The Republicans show their true colors: take big money from rich folks and use it to attack ordinary Americans. Walker's fate is sealed along with his soon-to-be-recalled accomplices.

Posted by: Student_Of_Irony | March 11, 2011 8:53 PM

I fear that the American people are dangerously close to losing this war... There is no longer fair and balanced information so we are seeing the effects of prolonged right winged propaganda being blared down upon the masses from a corporate America that no longer cares about anything but making profits for their rich stock holders...

In other words: garbage in = garbage out and that does not bode well for the future of our country...

Heck, if corporate America doesn't like it here and doesn't care about our people and couldn't care less about creating ***decent*** jobs here then, hey, I'd like to see corporate America pack its bags and go where they are creating jobs...

In other words: Love America and her people or get the heck out!!!

Bob

Posted by: bobnpvine | March 11, 2011 8:20 PM

The idiot has revived the labor movement.
The Fock brothers never expected that.

Posted by: analyst72 | March 11, 2011 8:11 PM

No one and I mean no one should have benefits better than meeeeeeeeeee!

Welcome to the race to the bottom.

Posted by: knjincvc | March 11, 2011 8:04 PM

So did Walker and republicans in the legislature take a pay and benefits cut?

Posted by: knjincvc | March 11, 2011 8:01 PM

In Wisconsin, where membership in the union is mandatory for most State employees, collective bargaining has deteriorated to a bunch of spoiled, pampered and entitled government employees demanding to have their way from beholden and servile government officials, that is, until today.

You may have disgruntled State employees now who have always owed their allegiance to the union and not to the citizens who employ them, but going forward, there is some hope their selfish and self-centered attitude will mitigate and they will get back to working a little more for the citizens and a little less solely for themselves, otherwise we need to figure out how to out-source their jobs to China, because we no longer can afford them, and paying them with foolish promises of big pensions and lots of benefits years from now is no longer a feasible or honest strategy for a very slight majority of voters in the State.

Posted by: droberts57 | March 11, 2011 7:17 PM

Walker's move was purely political, designed by none other than Carl Rove & Co. and financed, in part, by the infamous Koch brothers. Welcome to the new Republican Party! Bust the unions and you manage to bust a large block of organized Democrats...My angst for the Governator is directed at his bald-faced lying about this action being a budgetary necessity. The average WI teacher's salary is $47,000. What do you suppose the average college-educated Walker staffer makes???How about spreading out REAL budget cuts among ALL citizens of WI, including those making annual salaries of six figures and more...He's nothing but a belligerent autocrat.

The right may be dominated by screaming meanies, but the United States is a fair-minded even-handed country which will reject this huge lie.

Posted by: larry9 | March 11, 2011 6:53 PM

Walker has probably won. The Union's shrillness seems more desparation than anything else. We will see how many of those teachers vote for automatic checkoff of union dues next year. I would guess that a great number will be happy not to pay into the closed shop they were required to join to be a teacher.

Posted by: kesac | March 11, 2011 6:47 PM

Pretty sure Walker is one up on the douchbag of the year award.

Posted by: rcupps | March 11, 2011 6:29 PM

Democrats (and decent Independents and decent Republicans) could not have scripted Gov. Walker's Wisconsin outrage any better than Walker did -- for Democrats. The unscrupulous Walker, a bought-and-paid-for tool of the notorious multi-billionaire Koch brothers, made one thing clear: The wealthy and selfish far-right Republican Party will do everything it can to reduce and return workers to a status of serfdom in which working men and women (and children) dwelled before the union movement.
The far-right's greed and selfishness will boomerang disastrously onto the greedy and selfish Republicans of Wisconsin -- and their cohorts beyond.

Posted by: jimsteinberg1 | March 11, 2011 6:25 PM

Does the Republicans really beleive that they will win the White House in 2012 with these tactics? People ( Voters) are more motivated by fear of loss than by the promise of gain AN Angry Voter is a determined voter. Thats basic human behavior. Fear of loss is a great motivator. People who may have not registered or voted before will be signing up to vote and they will not be voting Republican

Posted by: Carprin | March 11, 2011 6:18 PM

Does the Republicans really beleive that they will win the White House in 2012 with these tactics? People ( Voters) are more motivated by fear of loss than by the promise of gain AN Angry Voter is a determined voter. Thats basic human behavior. Fear of loss is a great motivator. People who may have not registered or voted before will be signing up to vote and they will not be voting Republican

Posted by: Carprin | March 11, 2011 6:18 PM

Negotiating and compromising with your opponent to hammer out a solution agreeable to all because all play a role in the sacrifice is always best but it doesn't stir up the emotions to further the career of a politician coddled by the rich and privileged.

Has Governor Scott left for his all-expense paid vacation yet?

Posted by: TomMiller1 | March 11, 2011 6:15 PM

@hanks1 - Spoken like a true broke teabagger too stupid to realize that he is betting against his own interest.

Posted by: cholly85241 | March 11, 2011 6:08 PM

You say about Wisc public employees: "they've now been stripped of their long-standing rights to collectively bargain."

On what possible basis can you call these "rights"? Collective bargaining was mistakenly created for them by politicians and can be properly taken away. It's not a right, it's a privilege that has been abused to the point of bringing Wisconsin to the edge of bankruptcy.

Walker and the Republican controlled legislature did the right thing -- and a few screaming union thugs won't change that.

Posted by: hanks1 | March 11, 2011 5:54 PM

I think that Gov. Walker has been unusually clumsy and unnecessarily inflexible in linking the elimination of the public employees collective bargaining rights to his budget. The fact that the Republican state senators and representatives passed the separate bill to eliminate collective bargaining for the public employees' union, and that Gov. Walker is ready to sign the bill, add to the perception of him as a vindictive individual bereft of the knowledge and leadership skills needed to govern a modern society.

It is interesting that there is relatively little mention of some of the other provisions in Gov. Walker's "budget repair" bill. One of these would allow him to sell state-owned power, heating, and cooling plants without requiring competitive bids and without requiring approval by the public utilities commission (in other words, no public oversight) for any price he deems to be in the state's best interest. I find it difficult to believe that voters who funded the construction and operation of these plants would find such arrangements satisfactory. Another provision would allow him to make unilateral decisions about Medicaid in WI, bypassing the legislators.

Posted by: apn3206 | March 11, 2011 5:53 PM

People in this country after over 50years of welfare and subsidies have a mentality which do not understand what physical responsibility means. the state of Wisconsin has significant deficit but they do not want tax increase but in the same time they do not want any services cut. It is time for all of us to face the reality. Due to our laziness and unwarranted ballooned self esteem, all of us are blind and spoiled wanting big brother to come in and save us from our physical responsibility. These liberals and democrats do not understand the meaning of being broke and bankrupt but they think the money grows out of trees. Wake up everyone we are flat broke as a nation and we cannot continue to allow to have welfare,food stamps, subsidies for illegals,generous benefit plans for the government workers. We are not living in a democracy but socialism and all these people who has been relying on the government subsidies are going to have a rude awakening. No more free pies. All the rats ate it already.

Posted by: chaemoondriver | March 11, 2011 5:26 PM

Walker has taken some hard hits in public opinion. Unlike Obamacare, the worst is over for him. He has gained control over his states budget and he has avoided layoffs. The Democratic mobs also scared people, they saw a vision of what happens when you pull back on entitlements. If Wisconsin's economy improves and he pulls some companies from his left wing neighbor IL he will be a hero two years from now. IL by comparison will suffer layoffs and high taxes to keep funding their public service unions at present levels. Governor Quinn the typical Dem is kicking the can down the road until he gets replaced by a GOP Gov. who will have to do the heavy lifting for the taxpayers.

It's fairly clear who the Twenties roared for, and it was not regular folks.

Posted by: gannon_dick | March 11, 2011 5:09 PM

what's odd about jena's comments is that they ignore about 30 years of labor market developments. there certainly is a large body of research suggesting that employers must make a commitment to their employees to expect the same, in return. under good management, presumably this would lead to good performance, which appears to be jena's point. yet, for good or bad, our private labor market moved in a very different direction with lower impediments to employer dismissals of employees and much more job-hopping. the benefit has been a lower overall unemployment rate than was previously experienced, along with a more rapid allocation of labor to more productive uses. The downsides are that many more people in the private sector have experienced layoffs. So it seems these days employees are motivated to grow their skills and build their resumes so that they may remain competitive in the labor market. Going further, then, the media - including jena - have developed the propensity to talk about public workers as if they are a special class of people who live under the old labor market with a unique set of rules that we in the private sector must respect. The benefit concessions asked for and given by Wisconsin workers are relatively mild and still leave them far better off than their private sector counterparts who are tasked with funding these public sector jobs. What is still left unaddressed - including in wisconsin - is the unaffordable structural overhang of generous defined benefit pension plans that states simply cannot afford to pay and will eventually drag down the economy.

Posted by: tds15 | March 11, 2011 5:08 PM

How many disgruntled employees does it take to bring Wisconsin's government to its knees?

A lot less than Walker has disgruntled.

The next gubernatorial election in Wisconsin will be interesting, when voters see the state government has ground to a near-total halt during Walker's term. It won't be the workers they blame.

I'd sure hate to have to, say, renew my car's tags in Wisconsin in the next four years. Selma and Patty from the Simpsons will look like models of efficiency by comparison.

Posted by: info53 | March 11, 2011 5:06 PM

The common thread amongst the public union supporters on this board is the abject name-calling of Republicans. It's childish. When the facts do not support your position, call someone a name. When you're on the wrong side of a debate, call someone a name.

The public-sector unions are not fighting to protect the middle class. They are struggling to hold on to very favorable perks that private-sector employees do not enjoy, but must pay for.

We have union members -- government employees -- calling in sick and collecting pay, storming buildings, and issuing death threats. Why? Because they are now going to have to move toward the system that the "real" middle-class functions under. They still retain privileges, like their own retirement system, outside of Social Security. Federal and state paid holidays. Generous vacation and sick time. Dental and eye care plans.

Don't cry for the government worker. They still have it good. Just not as good as before. More death threats anyone?

Posted by: dkramer77 | March 11, 2011 5:03 PM

So the unions are going to call a massive strike to show that they are in control and not the governor?
Well, anyone that would support a strike of this nature, having a minority organization that is intimidating to the duly elected governor and legislature is supporting anarchy! That's right! Look up the definition of the word "anarchy"....anarchy is replacing "democracy"....wherby the duly elected are drowned out by a minority...I guess that will show all those homeowners that they had better pay up those extra taxes that will be coming up when their school budgets are sent in! And don't forget the creeping inflation that will result from their actions! Gasoline at $5.00 per gallon is not the only item that the taxpayer will be paying extra....have you noticed the cost of food rising at your local suprmarket?
Yes sir, the unions will control government! Homeowners, be prepared for the "extra's" that are coming your way....you will have nothing to say about them!

Posted by: SeniorVet | March 11, 2011 5:00 PM

We're beginning to see what Karl Rove's one-party rule of America is going to look like.

Posted by: lyndee1 | March 11, 2011 4:51 PM

This is all about concentration of POWER in the hands of a few. Government is not a business entity and we the people are the govt. What is behind all this is that republicans don't know how to govern. They are comfortable in Board Rooms but not in public hearings. The most egregious offense against the people of WI, is the malfeasance of fiduciary responsibility when the legislature granted ABSOLUTE authority to a high school educated, low intelligence individual over WI's energy resources. No Checks and balances. No messy public hearings, Walker gets to decide. THAT IS abdication of responsibilies by the legislature and deserves recall. NO ONE in a democracy is allowed absolute authority over the decisions that impact "the common good" and public assets. Snyder in MI has power to dissolve towns, etc..at will. Again, no checks and balances. Just concentration of power and betrayal of the responsibilities that go with "representing the people". there is no public voice in WI on Energy, there is no public voice in MI over fiscal policies. VERY UNDEMOCRATIC. EXTREME anti-americanism and violation of basic human rights. Walker, Snyder, Superthief Scott in FL, Lord Christie of NJ and Czar Kadish of OH will not get away with this power grab.

Posted by: CarmanK | March 11, 2011 4:40 PM

The point is not that Walker is winning the war, it's that the taxpayers have decided to fight back against an arrogant, obnoxious "let the taxpayers be damned government". AND this is beginning to happen all over the country and at every level of government. What really scares the government about it is that the taxpayers are fighting according to the rules and winning. The electorate and the taxpayers as a whole know that the government cannot carry on the way it has - over promising, over taxing and under delivering. If the only way to reduce government costs is for the government to do less then that is what the taxpayers will insist on. However, the taxpayers believe that good fiscal and operational management is also a fruitful area for reducing costs. It is the taxpayers that have gone to war, not just governor Walker,and the taxpayers have decided to kick -ss (using the rules to do so).

Posted by: AnAmerican5 | March 11, 2011 4:19 PM

The people of this great country better wake up to what Walker and the rest of his Neanderthal puppet masters are trying to accomplish--A ONE PARTY SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE. No, this is not some lunatic babbling. What have the Washington Repubs and the Repub governors been doing since they took over in 2010--gget rid of the unions, stop government funding of programs to assist the middle class and poor, stop the young people in this country from voting, etc, etc. Before it bites us in the a__, we better wake up and try to take our country back!!!!!

Posted by: rjstolba | March 11, 2011 4:18 PM

By now a sufficient amount of information has been revealed about what is taking place in Wisconsin to fully understand it.

Walker's actions are about using a fiscal crisis, created to some degree by his own policies (i.e. giving corporate tax breaks), to punish the political opposition and reward his allies. It's a straightforward execution of disaster capitalism, nothing more or less.

No one denies the need to bring public sector unions back to fiscal reality (although the problem is far more acute elsewhere). But targeted action against political opponents (and things the GOP doesn't like) that doesn't solve the fiscal issues is no substitute for the comprehensive action needed, whether at the local, state or federal level.

Thus we see, yet again, the utterly hypocritical face of the GOP. The amazing thing is how many of the current lot are "true believers," but considering that they've been engorged on 30+ years of propaganda (starting for most with the Reagan myth), perhaps it's not such a surprise.

Posted by: micron26 | March 11, 2011 4:15 PM

The point is not that Walker is winning the war, it's that the taxpayers have decided to fight back against an arrogant, obnoxious "let the taxpayers be damned government". AND this is beginning to happen all over the country and at every level of government. What really scares the government about it is that the taxpayers are fighting according to the rules and winning. The electorate and the taxpayers as a whole know that the government cannot carry on the way it has - over promising, over taxing and under delivering. If the only way to reduce government costs is for the government to do less then that is what the taxpayers will insist on. However, the taxpayers believe that good fiscal and operational management is also a fruitful area for reducing costs. It is the taxpayers that have gone to war, not just governor Walker,and the taxpayers have decided to kick -ss (using the rules to do so).

Posted by: AnAmerican5 | March 11, 2011 4:07 PM

The point is not that Walker is winning the war, it's that the taxpayers have decided to fight back against an arrogant, obnoxious "let the taxpayers be damned government". AND this is beginning to happen all over the country and at every level of government. What really scares the government about it is that the taxpayers are fighting according to the rules and winning. The electorate and the taxpayers as a whole know that the government cannot carry on the way it has - over promising, over taxing and under delivering. If the only way to reduce government costs is for the government to do less then that is what the taxpayers will insist on. However, the taxpayers believe that good fiscal and operational management is also a fruitful area for reducing costs. It is the taxpayers that have gone to war, not just governor Walker,and the taxpayers have decided to kick -ss (using the rules to do so).

Posted by: AnAmerican5 | March 11, 2011 4:03 PM

"There is no point in arguing or exchanging fire with Collectivists, with Egalitarians. They cannot be reached.

The only rational thing to do is defeat them. Completely. And every person who believes in and fights for the idea of the greatest amount of freedom and liberty for the Individual should stand in opposition to those who think otherwise."
******************************************
Well Kudos to you, son, because killing collective bargaining will help this cause...how exactly? Where's the anger at the short-sighted politicians who gave the unions these (apparently) unreasonable levels of pay and benefits? Really - isn't collective bargaining ultimately an extremely 'free market' exercise of freedom? You're right about one thing - people on the other side are unreachable, no matter which side we're talking about. This isn't about 'freedom', it's about the systematic destruction of the middle class. And really, I'm not sure it's even THAT grandiose of an idea. It seems likely that it's really about the systematic destruction of the Democratic party via the wiping out of union campaign contributions while simultaneously increasing the ability of corporations to make at will contributions - and who cares what the consequences might be. Hope someone answers next time you need the police or fire departments.

Posted by: grapenehi | March 11, 2011 3:56 PM

Reading these posts is perplexing.

The Wisconsin situation is not a budget battle. Union wages and benefits are a miniscule part of Wisconsin's budget problems. And Walker excluded police and fire unions which supported him in the last election (shame on them).

It is clearly a coordinated attack by the Repbulican Governors driven By Grover Norquist and his allies.

Have we forgotten Congressional wars of the '90's, the disputed 2000 election, manipulation of the press in the run up to not one, but two wars that are now albatrosses and huge off the books debt drags on the economy.

Leave the teachers alone. If you have ever lived with a teacher, you know that they put in alot of hours and administrative political baloney most office wonks would not put up with. Hair brained priorities in making education a whipping boy. If we don't educate our kids, we slide into the Dark Ages figuratively speaking and stifle our ability to compete.

Point the finger at the folks who created this mess...Small minded politicians who want power not for the good of the nation, but for their own benefit.

Like the ones currently running Wisconsin.

Posted by: chitownhustler | March 11, 2011 3:45 PM

"Walker won this battle, but is he winning the war?"

Let's sure hope not.

Posted by: truthseeker33 | March 11, 2011 3:36 PM

I'd be really careful posting comments of this nature. These are the sort of comments that get you visits from law enforcement.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 2:30 PM

After seeing post at least three times that "The only rational thing to do is defeat them. Completely.", you better start calling the kettle black, Mr. Pot. The context you have is utter defeat, which is only possible by elimination. Suppression will still keep the ideals alive, but you have already made your statement that you want the other side removed from the equation.

Posted by: Falling4Ever | March 11, 2011 3:33 PM

Walker cares only about Walker, getting re-elected, running for a job in DC and oh yes, keeping his millionaire friends happy. It is interesting that he acts like the unions dictate terms of benefits to the state--didn't the state have to agree to all those benefits--you know, bargain for them.

Posted by: deaneusaf | March 11, 2011 3:30 PM

How is it that in the 21st century America we still have corrupt unions that force employees to join their mob and pay a union dues (protection money) every payday if they want to work. I thought these "shakedowns" ended years ago.

Fortunately only 7% of the private sector belongs to unions, but no government employees should be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

This is why union membership in the federal government is entirely voluntary.

Government collective bargaining means voters do not have the final say on public policy. Instead their elected representatives must negotiate spending and policy decisions with unions. That is not exactly democratic – a fact that unions once recognized.

The only purpose unions have anymore is to be a fund raising arm of the Democrat party.

Unions gave $400 million to Democrats in the 2008 campaign cycle, and they expect to get something in return, like exemptions from Obamacare or the card check bill that would effectively abolish the secret ballot in unionization elections.

Posted by: fury60 | March 11, 2011 3:21 PM

When the people of Wisconsin begin seeing their state budget return to normal, maybe even a surplus without massive tax increases, they will forget about the marxist union scum and their supporters and think the Governor got it right after all. The Governor is really a brave man by calling it like it is. Judging from the union thug behavior in the capitol with their shouts, I thought he showed tremendous restraint. I would have had the riot police in full gear wading into them crushing skulls. That's what the hoodlum, er, unions do. Give them a taste of their own medicine.

Posted by: panamajack
==============

What on earth makes you think this had anything to do with balancing the budget? The unions had already agreed to cuts, but Walker has now spent millions fighting over a right wing political goal with no real budget impact. And how will giving tax cuts to his wealthy supporters help balance the budget?

He is taking money from the middle class and giving it to the wealthy - a sure prescription for future economic problems.

But you can also be sure that when it happens that republicans and the right wing will deny their responsibility and blame someone else - then insist even more tax cuts will get things rolling. The trickle down is now here, but for the poor and middle class its not green but golden.

POSTED BY: RAPCHAT1 | MARCH 11, 2011 2:53 PM

========================

"...What on earth makes you think this had anything to do with balancing the budget?..."

Because the problem is systemic. As a result the problem must be addressed at the root. The root is collective bargaining, not one-and-done contributions by public unions. That's like cutting off a branch and saying you've killed the tree.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 3:00 PM

The Republicans have shown that they favor tax cuts for the rich rather than support schools and provide help to the poor and middle class. They are against unions and collective bargaining. They refuse to recognize that health care reform was necessary to reduce its cost to the nation. The Republicans are only interested in crippling the US so they can be reelected in 2012. I'll remember what they stand for. I will never vote Republican and neither will my family.

POSTED BY: FRANKBRIT1 | MARCH 11, 2011 2:45 PM

========================

"...I will never vote Republican and neither will my family..."

Whereas I (unlike you and people on the terminal Left) will let my family think for themselves and act and vote accordingly.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 2:55 PM

When the people of Wisconsin begin seeing their state budget return to normal, maybe even a surplus without massive tax increases, they will forget about the marxist union scum and their supporters and think the Governor got it right after all. The Governor is really a brave man by calling it like it is. Judging from the union thug behavior in the capitol with their shouts, I thought he showed tremendous restraint. I would have had the riot police in full gear wading into them crushing skulls. That's what the hoodlum, er, unions do. Give them a taste of their own medicine.

Posted by: panamajack
==============

What on earth makes you think this had anything to do with balancing the budget? The unions had already agreed to cuts, but Walker has now spent millions fighting over a right wing political goal with no real budget impact. And how will giving tax cuts to his wealthy supporters help balance the budget?

He is taking money from the middle class and giving it to the wealthy - a sure prescription for future economic problems.

But you can also be sure that when it happens that republicans and the right wing will deny their responsibility and blame someone else - then insist even more tax cuts will get things rolling. The trickle down is now here, but for the poor and middle class its not green but golden.

Posted by: rapchat1 | March 11, 2011 2:53 PM

I live in Wisconsin. The national coverage seems to focus on the union busting issue, but that's only a part of it. As many or more people are upset about the severe cuts to public school budgets, devastation of Medicaid, and cuts to parks and environment. Walker has managed to piss off just about everyone except the very hard core conservatives. I've never seen my friends and neighbors so upset and angry.

Posted by: wyder2 | March 11, 2011 2:51 PM

Here is the woof and the warp of what you need to know about those who place themselves on the Left of the political spectrum. They abide by this one simple irreducible 'first principle' -- Ability should be subordinated, in perpetuity, to Need. It is the very foundation upon which the Collectivist stands, and without which he cannot stand. Ability (those who CAN) MUST be made to serve Need (those who WON’T).

That's all you need to know about this ilk. Everything they say comes from that fundamental premise. They are unrepentant egalitarians, sickened by the idea of elitism, by the idea of celebrating and rewarding the best and brightest among us, sickened by merit, sickened by the idea of judging others by the content of their character and the output of their skill rather than the color of their skin or the purity and rigidity of their ideology. It is the primary driver of their thinking, as has been so clearly and cleanly articulated by President Obama, when he says, "Truly, we are our brother's keeper." I'll take him at his word that that is exactly what he believes and that that is exactly what his goal is as the primary driver of his policy pursuits.

There is no point in arguing or exchanging fire with Collectivists, with Egalitarians. They cannot be reached.

The only rational thing to do is defeat them. Completely. And every person who believes in and fights for the idea of the greatest amount of freedom and liberty for the Individual should stand in opposition to those who think otherwise.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 2:51 PM

I just don't get it. This nitwit has already taken steps that will undermine the middle class and weaken the Wisconsin economy, and yet endless right wing nuts are posting idiocy about how unions are 'communism'.

Willfully ignorance and wingnut self righteousness are a sad combination.

Posted by: rapchat1 | March 11, 2011 2:45 PM

The Republicans have shown that they favor tax cuts for the rich rather than support schools and provide help to the poor and middle class. They are against unions and collective bargaining. They refuse to recognize that health care reform was necessary to reduce its cost to the nation. The Republicans are only interested in crippling the US so they can be reelected in 2012. I'll remember what they stand for. I will never vote Republican and neither will my family.

Posted by: frankbrit1 | March 11, 2011 2:45 PM

When the people of Wisconsin begin seeing their state budget return to normal, maybe even a surplus without massive tax increases, they will forget about the marxist union scum and their supporters and think the Governor got it right after all. The Governor is really a brave man by calling it like it is. Judging from the union thug behavior in the capitol with their shouts, I thought he showed tremendous restraint. I would have had the riot police in full gear wading into them crushing skulls. That's what the hoodlum, er, unions do. Give them a taste of their own medicine.

Posted by: panamajack | March 11, 2011 2:45 PM

It is very perplexing to me how some people who might consider themselves middle class are more willing to say disparaging things about people in their same socio-economic level but are mute when it comes to how the wealthy and corporations are given all kinds of tax breaks and corporate welfare..you have been so brainwashed into thinking that somehow the benefits to these groups will somehow trickle down to you..well guess again.. NOT gonnna happen... American jobs are outsourced overseas...executives are receiving outrageous bonuses..even if the company fails.. and you are left with a mortgage you cannot pay and n you cannot afford to send your children to college... Stop being upset over any small advantage that you perceive someone less fortunate or who is of equal status to have over you.. the people are in this together..and until you realize this you will continue to made fools out of.

Posted by: sabrina2 | March 11, 2011 2:43 PM

This malignant narcissist, chronic scapegoating, uncorrectable grab bagging, conservative republican nit wit menace, with his perversity of inequality, bigotry, rights only of his kind is on the pay roll of the Nazi Koch brothers. Collective bargaining is along established US legal precedent and will withstand when law suits get moving and in the end Wisconsin will lose much more. The bigger Irony is that these politicians at all levels down from the US Congress, in which 85 % of the people have no confidence to state Governors, legislature yahoos, assemblies, city councils, county commissioners, the filthy shyster banking hierarchy, judges, lawyers, doctors, business tycoons, corporate American plus all the Presidents, prime ministers are all self de facto unions with all their compensations, bonuses, perks, benefits, medical care, stock options and the rest of the hog wash that makes them rich and powerful through corruption and misappropriation of the tax payers money.

They not only take bribes, but but the campaign contributions from private interests like the SOB Koch brothers Nazis and others . Who have managed to ideologically divide, polarize, economic terror besiege this nation and set it on a fast track of self destruction from within.

Walker and his cronies will within a year recalled to reverse this unprecedented fiasco.

Posted by: winemaster2 | March 11, 2011 2:39 PM

Here is the woof and the warp of what you need to know about those who place themselves on the Left of the political spectrum. They abide by this one simple irreducible 'first principle' -- Ability should be subordinated, in perpetuity, to Need. It is the very foundation upon which the Collectivist stands, and without which he cannot stand. Ability (those who CAN) MUST be made to serve Need (those who WON’T).

That's all you need to know about this ilk. Everything they say comes from that fundamental premise. They are unrepentant egalitarians, sickened by the idea of elitism, by the idea of celebrating and rewarding the best and brightest among us, sickened by merit, sickened by the idea of judging others by the content of their character and the output of their skill rather than the color of their skin or the purity and rigidity of their ideology. It is the primary driver of their thinking, as has been so clearly and cleanly articulated by President Obama, when he says, "Truly, we are our brother's keeper." I'll take him at his word that that is exactly what he believes and that that is exactly what his goal is as the primary driver of his policy pursuits.

There is no point in arguing or exchanging fire with Collectivists, with Egalitarians. They cannot be reached.

The only rational thing to do is defeat them. Completely. And every person who believes in and fights for the idea of the greatest amount of freedom and liberty for the Individual should stand in opposition to those who think otherwise.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 2:34 PM

Governor Walker is using budget woes as an excuse to act as a dictator in Wisconsin. We live in a Democracy that allows for full discussion and compromise. Unions are willing to negotiate- they are us, they are the citizens. To unilaterally take away the rights of Unions to negotiate is undemocratic. Unions work to make the workplace safe and through vigorous negotiation, the State of Wisconsin can win concessions to bring down salaries, medical costs and retirement. No one elected Governor Walker to ruin our Democracy with dictatorial methods. A good governor negotiates and compromises- a poor one short-changes democracy.

Posted by: morris6 | March 11, 2011 2:32 PM

Walker a Hitler-want-a be will be toast as soon as he is eligible for recall if he lives that long.

I'd be really careful posting comments of this nature. These are the sort of comments that get you visits from law enforcement.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 2:30 PM

mom always said that there was more than one way to skin a cat / freeloading dems can't stop us now

Posted by: ddan53 | March 11, 2011 2:25 PM

Gov. Walker was elected to do this. Wisconsin is laike most states, suffering the bankruptcy that comes from years of rolling over and giving away all that has been demanded by the pubic employee unions. The old bargain of good jobs, no one gets fired, no one works too hard, no one gets paid too much broke down 40 years ago; now the public employees are fully unionized, go on strike when they want, get pensions and health care with no personla contribution, get overtime even though they are senior managers and leaders (loads of $250k lifetime pensions out there right now), and recall the NY scandals of 70% of the LIRR employees going out on disability for a few more thousands per year forever. So, the money has run out, and it all comes from you, dear taxpayer. Its not the evil coporations, its the evil taxpayers who are saying No More. Much as the unions and Dems will try to demonize Walker et al, they will be nable to get over the fact that the constituency behind this movement is the taxpayer roll of the state.

Posted by: pioneer1 | March 11, 2011 2:22 PM

Why shouldn't union members have to pay a larger portion of their health care, etc just as the private industry is making their workers pay? I know I am.

I am not anti-union but I am anti-unreasonable unions that break budgets. Ask the automakers (that are still in business).

This is not war. Remember, just a few weeks ago we were talking about toning down the hyperbole in Arizona. Let's keep the rhetoric civil. Michael Moore and other fanatics may call it war, but it's about living within our budget and correcting the imbalances that have developed over the years.

The Governors of Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and New Jersey are simply taking the first logical steps to control state budget. The unions would have us believe that they are willing to compromise on budgetary issues, but as we see in states like NY, California and Illinois that they are not willing to compromise.

Posted by: cr8oncsu | March 11, 2011 2:12 PM

Launching a class war is not democratic. The ideals of democracy have been trampled upon, by those corporate shills, posing as legislators. SHAME ON GOP OPERATIVES.

If you look at those GOP legislators, they have no interest in THE PEOPLE, they care about CORPORATE TAX BREAKS.

This is CORRUPTION of Government.

Posted by: rmorris391 | March 11, 2011 2:09 PM

Walker a Hitler-want-a be will be toast as soon as he is eligible for recall if he lives that long.

Posted by: roguecowboy | March 11, 2011 2:08 PM

I come from a Blue Collar working family. I support working people. I don't support the Walkers,Kochs, and all the other Republicans that would take back what little working people have gotten especially from collective bargaining. Some people are just unwilling to pay a fair share for the benefit of the whole.

Posted by: misewicz | March 11, 2011 2:05 PM

Walk has already lost the political battle, but from his perspective, who cares. In the end, whether he gets recalled, losses re-election, he will end up making mega millions on speaking on fees for the rest his life. Sara Palin has taught conservatives how you can be a college drop out, half term governor, a vice-presidential loser, and still become a millionaire. There are many conservatives that are trying to emulate Palin’s path to wealth.

Posted by: mcsuarez | March 11, 2011 1:58 PM

No, Walker is not winning the war. But he did start it.

Walker showed that he is the willing government arm of a class war that began, as class war always does, by the rich and privileged and their puppets in official capacities.

That Walker first cut the taxes of the rich (who, incidentally have been hoarding cash and not creating jobs), and then, when the coffers were more depleted, said the poor, working class, and unions who expect to have deferred payment contracts honored, would have to make up the shortfall created by the rich person payback scheme.

I say just keep the assaults on the middle class coming, because nothing is guaranteed to radicalize them/us into fighting back more than the obvious rewards to the rich, complaints that government can't function, and then stripping of the middle class.

Walker's move was an overreach. That he is a Koch Brothers puppet just makes him all the more loathesome. He knows where his bread is buttered, and he's not even his own man.

Posted by: lindsaycurren | March 11, 2011 1:57 PM

I hope nobody commenting here against Walker trusts their kids in Virginia schools. They must be falling apart since the teachers don't have collective bargaining rights in that state.

Posted by: trippin1 | March 11, 2011 1:54 PM

Win? Is passing a piece of paper by sketchy means, a victory? How do we measure this? Walker is boss to a 160,000 rather angry employees. How does he expect they will serve him now? Workers have many, many ways of screwing things up and it's hard to see Wisconsin unions giving-in and giving up on such a fundamental right, especially under these circumstances. We, too often, in American culture and politics, focus on the media chess game, the battle for good PR. The crass braying of ebullient right-wingers on this site reveals a true lack of understanding about how unions and employee relations works. Labor is movement subject to advances and setbacks, and it's unlikely some flim-flam parliamentary maneuver represents a true reflection of the political landscape. Quite the opposite.

Posted by: highwayscribery1 | March 11, 2011 1:53 PM

Decades of research have shown that committed employees who are engaged in their jobs are far more productive and efficient--in other words, they cost less--than those who are not.
++++++++

What does this research have to do with union employees?

Posted by: moebius22 | March 11, 2011 1:51 PM

Scott Walker is one of the best union organizers I have seen in decades. Without the Scott Walkers of the world there would be no need for unions.

Posted by: aahpat | March 11, 2011 1:48 PM

"Wisconsin Put'em In"

My goodness, "Wisconsin voted Republican! They have no one to blame but themselves, here's what they should do..."Learn from it, and then "RECALL GOV. SCOTT WALKER!

..."Then...."NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN AGAIN!

Posted by: ztcb41 | March 11, 2011 1:42 PM

I love all the dire predictions from the progressives on this board. Regardless of what happens to the Republicans in Wisconsin there is no doubt that they have permanently weakened public unions in Wisconsin and likely across the nation. For that, all taxpaying Americans owe them a permanent debt of gratitude.

Posted by: dknight12345 | March 11, 2011 1:38 PM

He and the Republicans will pay dearly in loss of political support by all voters of both parties and the middle who abhor brutality and bullies.

Posted by: changeisconstant | March 11, 2011 1:36 PM

Here is the woof and the warp of what you need to know about those who place themselves on the Left of the political spectrum. They abide by this one simple irreducible 'first principle' -- Ability should be subordinated, in perpetuity, to Need. It is the very foundation upon which the Collectivist stands, and without which he cannot stand. Ability (those who CAN) MUST be made to serve Need (those who WON’T).

That's all you need to know about this ilk. Everything they say comes from that fundamental premise. They are unrepentant egalitarians, sickened by the idea of elitism, by the idea of celebrating and rewarding the best and brightest among us, sickened by merit, sickened by the idea of judging others by the content of their character and the output of their skill rather than the color of their skin or the purity and rigidity of their ideology. It is the primary driver of their thinking, as has been so clearly and cleanly articulated by President Obama, when he says, "Truly, we are our brother's keeper." I'll take him at his word that that is exactly what he believes and that that is exactly what his goal is as the primary driver of his policy pursuits.

There is no point in arguing or exchanging fire with Collectivists, with Egalitarians. They cannot be reached.

The only rational thing to do is defeat them. Completely. And every person who believes in and fights for the idea of the greatest amount of freedom and liberty for the Individual should stand in opposition to those who think otherwise.

Posted by: KGC2 | March 11, 2011 1:31 PM

JHMLUCAS WROTE THE FOLLOWING-

First of all, "Dwight Collins" is a moron.
This so-called "Governor" is nothing but a pissant, egomaniacal, third-world dictator who happens to be both ignorant AND stupid. By ramming bills through his shadow legislature without discussion or debate, he brings to mind nothing so much as the Riechstag under Adolf Hitler. He's nothing but a lackey of the Kohl brothers and a stooge to the uber-rich Republicans who are doing everything in their power to destroy this once-great nation called America.
What has happened to Wisconsin and its proud heritage of progressive politics? It's a shame that dispicable people such as Mr. Walker have duped enough voters to have even the appearance of legitimacy.
Posted by: jhmlucas | March 11, 2011 12:41 PM
===========================================
Exactly. That was in 33. Hitler actually had the Reichstag surrounded by brown shirts and the legislation was the famous "Enabling Act". It gave Hitler dictatorial powers and among other things, outlawed unions. Perhaps next time this happens, whatever capital is involved will be surrounded by Tea Party knuckle draggers. P.S. regarding Dwight Collins, I agree.

Posted by: douglasstinson | March 11, 2011 1:30 PM

There is no comparison of the passage of Health Care Reform by President Obama and the democratic congress and the eradication of unions by Walker and the Republican WI congress. Walker NEVER ran on eliminating unions. Walker's methods alienated and inhibited any debate...were their any townhall meetings on the subject??? and how long has he been in office?? 2 months?? How long since he introduced eliminating unions? 1 month? President Obama campaigned for years on health care reform. It was debated around the country for one entire year after he became President. Losing the debate is far different from Walker's backroom deals, outright lies and rushed, after midnight voting was occurred. But in his thirst for power and adoration by the Koch brothers, he may have just handed WI to the dems in 2012. For that we may have to just step back and say Thank YOU!

Posted by: yinyang2 | March 11, 2011 1:22 PM

One of the readers probably has it right: the whole deal is an investment in future speaking fees for Walker. He and Sarah and other Tea Baggers will eat off this for the rest of their lives.

Posted by: frodot | March 11, 2011 1:21 PM

Federal Workers do not have union bargaining rights yet earn an average of $74,500.00. Gov Calvin Coolidge broke a Boston police strike in 1919 so was a VP candidate in 1920, elected and became president in a Vermont candle light ceremony when Pres Harding died. Ditto President Scott Walker. Truth is stranger than fiction.

Posted by: mascmen7 | March 11, 2011 1:12 PM

Who's going to win, you ask?

Less than 10% of American workers are unionized, while the other 90% of us workers and taxpayers are paying their freight and we don't belong to unions and therefore don't get their quality bennies to gobble up. Who do you think is going to win?

WaPo staffers can count to 100, can't they?

Posted by: tom75 | March 11, 2011 1:10 PM

I am tried of hearing and reading about this to be honest. I am struggling with the method used, the reasons behind it, and what will be effect actully turn out to be....too many questions to answer at the moment.

I guess it comes down to this, was it necessary to remove the collective barganing rights to save money? Since no money was involved, its hard to say. Will the new legislation make it possible to save money in the future by simply changing benefits without having to ask or debate them with your employees? I guess that is where the savings will come from, on top of the limited wage increases. The other part, prohibiting local governments from raising revenue to make up the lost state funding strikes me as wrong, and not legal, but I am not sure how these are treated in WI.

I also would add, by removing bargaining, I am not sure how you can measure the saving directly. If you cut additional state revenue to attract businesses, and use this to make the lost money up that becomes a measurement tool

But it still does not explain the in your face war declared on the states' employees, that is the hardest thing to understand. All for money?

Posted by: johnm12 | March 11, 2011 1:02 PM

Walker has already lost the political battle, but from his perspective, who cares. In the end, even if he gets recalled, lor osses re-election, he will end up making mega millions on speaking on fees for the rest his life. Sara Palin has taught conservatives how you can be a college drp out, a half term governor, a vice-presidential loser, and still become a millionaire. There are many republicans that are trying to emulate her path. This is not about caring for Wisconsin. This is about making money for Walker at any cost. After all, he is a republican.

Posted by: mcsuarez | March 11, 2011 12:57 PM

This plan in Wisc. was hatched up by the right and not by Walker, the plan is to break the unions and bring back slavery as it was in the south years ago. Plantation owners provided a cheap house, a hard job in the fields, a little money and iron fisted rule, and last but not least you couldn't complain, while they made millions, sound familiar!! The rich don't care about the little guy as long as they can keep the bucks comming in. I have been around a long time and we had to fight for everything the little guy has gained over the years and now the wealthy see an opening to push us back to the thirties, if we don't fight them now, and it wont be easy, we may never get what we had back.

Posted by: fmcoletta | March 11, 2011 12:51 PM

He won the election, and now he's carrying through what he ran on. He has the support of a majority of the state legislature, so it looks to me as if he can carry through his program. We had a similar situation when Obama was elected, along with solid Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. Obama then pushed through health care without any Republican support.
This is the way politics works. If you have the votes, you can push your program through, no matter how much the opposition screams. If people don't like it, then vote them out of office the next time around.

Posted by: edwardallen54 | March 11, 2011 12:48 PM

First of all, "Dwight Collins" is a moron.

This so-called "Governor" is nothing but a pissant, egomaniacal, third-world dictator who happens to be both ignorant AND stupid. By ramming bills through his shadow legislature without discussion or debate, he brings to mind nothing so much as the Riechstag under Adolf Hitler. He's nothing but a lackey of the Kohl brothers and a stooge to the uber-rich Republicans who are doing everything in their power to destroy this once-great nation called America.

What has happened to Wisconsin and its proud heritage of progressive politics? It's a shame that dispicable people such as Mr. Walker have duped enough voters to have even the appearance of legitimacy.

Posted by: jhmlucas | March 11, 2011 12:41 PM

Ppl who never fought in a war (ie been shot at) shouldn't use that phrase...most ppl have no clue what that means...now, we all must sacrifice to get this country back on track and the Gov was elected to get the Wi hous in order...seems to me he's doin what he said he'd do which is very rare in politics...he has my vote.

Posted by: mjandrews8 | March 11, 2011 12:41 PM

In other political contexts, the WaPo would be hailing such a hard fought political victory and gaining political traction and momentum. But since it is Republicans, any victory is temporary and debilitating.

Thank you, beacon of objective journalism.

Posted by: edbyronadams | March 11, 2011 12:40 PM

please, please, please watch rachel maddow on msnbc. there's more to this republican onslaught on unions. they are also making it difficult for democrats to vote in 2012. this is how they will try to dampen the effects of their anti-middle class warfare. they are making new stipulations for young voters, minority voters, senior citizens and new registrants. they are also submitting legislation to put financial managers in place of our elected officials which summarily discounts our votes. this is unamerican.

Posted by: glenknowles | March 11, 2011 12:39 PM

Walker or not,unions and collective bargaining are no longer among the holy cows of America in the current conditions.The sheer incoherence of Walker's opponents proves this.

Posted by: vismorge | March 11, 2011 12:37 PM

Yes, I believe Walker and the congress of Wisconsin did the absolute right thing...these union workers still have jobs, and there won't be any layoffs.... The state and governments cannot keep paying the way for those who already make a lot of money and have very good health benefits. I'm one of the many seniors living on Social Security because union jobs weren't available to me until very late in my lfe...I live on less than $10,000.00 a year and I'm making it alright. They live on much more and the economy is built around their incomes, not ours. You don't hear us seniors holding rallies to make the government pay our way in life. We've had to cut down dramatically in order to survive, these union employees will have to cut down on their spending, but at least they are still employed and have the medical they need and want. I say, go with the flow guys and gals. Think of others along the way, and know we are alright and so will you be. Now the states need to cut back on welfare and make those individuals take up working and paying their ways as well. What a free and glorius country ours would be again, if we all pitched in to help ourselves. I remember President Kennedy, a Democrat, said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what YOU can do for your country" This is a step after how many years???

Posted by: pcgraef | March 11, 2011 12:29 PM

No question, he has lost big time. It' quite the public relations disaster for him.

Posted by: jamalmstrom | March 11, 2011 12:28 PM

When one wins the war he just pull all supporters to him and not pushing them away.
Am afraid walker has just done the opposite. The battle yes (which is temporary, he has won); but the really war seems a long shot to him.
He should not under-estimate the power of people. They are the ones who put him in power and they are the ones who will throw him from power!

Posted by: fridamulindayahoocouk | March 11, 2011 12:28 PM

This is what happens when you elect an uneducated person to higher office. This guy was a college dropout never developed critical thinking skills, this should be a wake up call for people who think any Tom, Dick and Harry could be elected to higher office.

Posted by: lagos58 | March 11, 2011 12:23 PM

Yawn. I'm so tired of this story. Get over it; it's done. He did nothing wrong or illegal. Now go back to work and shut up. I'm sure you union thugs will protest at the Wisconsin state capitol this weekend and cause more damage. Unions are just run by Communist. Even your beloved socialist FDR said it was a bad idea to give public workers the right to become unionized. That is one thing I can agree with him on.

Posted by: dpunty | March 11, 2011 12:20 PM

Gov. Walker declared war on public workers and the rights that took decades to achieve. His behavior is shameful, unwarranted and morally unconscionable. I can think of only one remedy: RECALL elections!

Posted by: rayd11 | March 11, 2011 12:12 PM

Walker will be recalled as will his cronies in the legislature. He will go down in history as a total freak.

Posted by: greeenmtns | March 11, 2011 12:11 PM

well i was going to thrown in my 2 cents, or is it $20 these days? But no need to. I read two random posts that the page landed on. Trakker already made my point for me, and dwightcollins who is one of the dumbestofallthebrainwashed sheep was kind enough to prove Trakker's point and the one I came on here to make. It is astounding that the repiggers can attack and assault the middle class, thrown out a little propaganda, and the result is the sheeple believing the alternate reality because their masters tell them to. i thought it quite appropriate that dwight - i'm not capable of thinking so fox news does it for me - Collins post was directly below Trakkers. Trakker makes the point, Dwight Einstein screams, Hi, Sucker here!!!!!

Posted by: red2million | March 11, 2011 12:10 PM

The whole process may have been illegal. So the Democrats and the Unions need to get a judge to place an injunction against the act until it can be settled in a court of law.

Posted by: recj50 | March 11, 2011 12:05 PM

As an inactive union member (that happens when you move into a licensed profession after college) and family member of union electricians, carpenters, bakers and bakery mechanics, I am very supportive of the importance of workers having the rights to collectively bargain.

Wisconsin needs to be viewed as a 'wake-up' call to union leadership to better understand their role- focus on the rank and file and not the political aspects of their job, and to the rank and file to be very active in promoting Labor and make sure they vote 'union'.

C'mon. In the last Wisconsin election, the anti-union senstiments of republicans and Tea Party sorts should be absolutely no surprise.

But they got elected. How many of the Rank and File voted for them. Alot, simply put.

What did Joni Mitchell sing? 'You Don't know what you got til its gone'

The republicans and tea party conservatives would be quite happy returning to the business oligopolies of the 19th and early 20th century robber barons. Some cynical freinds say even a return to feudal aristocracy and plantationism for that matter...

We've come to long a way to let that happen.

Posted by: chitownhustler | March 11, 2011 11:57 AM

It was strange to see union supporters protesting against taxpayers as if we were Hormel. When private sector employees are earning 80 percent of what state workers make, then it's time alter the negotiating structure.

I'm afraid to speak out in public against public unions because they are so powerful. No telling how they might retaliate.

I hope the unions will try to bankrupt a car company or something so I can be on their side again.

Posted by: blasmaic | March 11, 2011 11:56 AM

This is just part of the class war that the rich, through the Republican party, has been waging to crush the middle class. Not until everyone is so desperate that they will work for pennies, with no benefits and no job security will the corporations be satisfied.

They will win because there are too many middle class Americans who hate anyone making more than them, hate anyone with benefits and job security, and are willing to believe the Republican propaganda about how union members are thugs who blackmail the public so they can live like kings and queens - while huge profitable corporations like Bank of America and GE pay no taxes at all.

We are a nation of suckers.

Posted by: Trakker | March 11, 2011 11:55 AM

has obama won the battle or the war or anything...
what gov. Walker did was for the interest of his citizens...
what has obama done...
gone on vacation more times than we can count...
and run for reelection...
because he knows he need the time to con the people again...
I guess we will have to watch and see what happens...

Posted by: DwightCollins | March 11, 2011 11:52 AM

Unions use to be good for the people, years ago. Not anymore. Now, they are out for the money and the favors they can buy with the money. We paid top dollar to have union workers do some work on our office building. What a joke. After 3 months the vanity fell off the wall, the carpeting is coming up all over and don't let me tell you about the paint job! We hired non-union workers to fix their mess. The job they did was GREAT and the price was right. They even picked up after themselves at lunch! Not like the union guys who tossed their garbage anywhere they felt like, and left it for us to clean up after the pigs!

Posted by: bailey50 | March 11, 2011 11:42 AM

MDSINC: You're a victim of your employer's incompetence or greed if your standard of living has been decimated. Either that or your own ignorance for blaming organized labor for the country's problems when it is corporate greed and Wall Street deception that put us here. Corporate America is posting higher profits than at any time in human history and rubes like you blame labor? You deserve your standard of living slashed.

Posted by: wm1322 | March 11, 2011 11:42 AM

From a leadership perspective, it doesn't appear wise to deliberately poke a powerful adversary in the eye in your first two months in office. Particularly considering that it wasn't even necessary in order to balance the Wisconsin budget.

Walker's actions make more sense from a strictly political perspective. And it is clear from this light that he is more interested in winning than leading.

It's hard to see in the long term how Walker can be successful as a leader when he has gone out of his way to make so many enemies in his first few months of service. He's made his own job that much harder. It will be a long four years.

Posted by: jp1954 | March 11, 2011 11:40 AM

The last time Wisconsin was split like this polictically was when Senator Joe McCarthy was censored. The people came down squarely against "Tail gunner Joe" and it was more than 50 years before a Republican won a Senate Race. I suspect that we'll learn in about 18 months how the state will react to Gov. Walker. If they decide against him, the Republican Party will suffer for decades again. The small town and Northwoods people are Conservative but are very Catholic and Lutheran in their faith. They believe it wrong to treat their friends, neighbors and families unfairly. This will be interesting how it turns out. My best guess is thenpeople will reject Gov. Walker's policies.

Posted by: doubleduece | March 11, 2011 11:36 AM

If my reading of the 'true' RISE & FALL OF THE GREAT POWERS has been what we are watching happen in Wisconsin. What are we essentially 'fighting' over is: LAND. Why? Because NO wealth can be produced without land! It's always been the truth that God-The-Creator created LAND for ALL of mankind for FREE! How can any human being make the claim that they OWN what God-The-Creator made from nothing, merely by saying: "BE AND IT IS!" So, in a philosophical sense it is a fight over nothing-a 'manmade concept? Private ownership of land is a tool used by those who worship satan-the-outcast! This is essentially what has been the 'cause'of military/political strife historically. Stupid-is-as stupid does! When mankind start to worship what GOD-THE-CREATOR has 'only loaned' to them for a lifetime HE ALWAYS destroys their civiizations, past, present, and future! In reality there is NO LIIMIT to GOD-THE-CREATORS WEALTH! Only those who worship satan-the-outcast think that wealth is limited and have to be fought over like mad-dogs! Silly, immature,addited human beings, who really in their folly have to be pitied.

Posted by: abubakrnu | March 11, 2011 11:32 AM

Look, Walker has been bought by the Koch brothers. Walker intends to turn over those nuclear plants to the Koch brothers for peanuts, just watch. The fact that the GOP believes that it will cripple the Democrats is just frosting on the top. In order to facilitate the Koch brothers take over of Wisconsin jobs and some industries, he needed to end collective bargaining. This means that any terms and conditions of employment can and will be dicated by the Koch brothers or their corporate interests. These guys intend for nearly the entire state of Wisconsin to be given over to what is tantamount to serfdom or servitude of the masses to Corporate interests in Wisconsin. They figure the people will need a job so much, that the chaos factor will kick in. People desperate for jobs will turn on each other, instead of the overlords. Note how Walker wants some public servants to have bargaining rights, while others do not. This is the wedge! Dont fall for it Wisconsonites!

Posted by: ruthella10 | March 11, 2011 11:27 AM

War?

Public opinion WILL change as tax payers (the public) realize that there IS NO MONEY!!!

My standard of living has been cut by half. Do UNION THUGS deserve to reach into my pocket, by way of holding the state hostage, and take whatever amount they think is necessary to keep their "standard" of living?

I'll answer that for you - NO!

You people can make this about "those MEAN Republicans" don't care about the little people, when just the opposite is true - the unions are willing to strip tax payers of every penny they earn to maintain what they think they deserve.

Posted by: mdsinc | March 11, 2011 11:26 AM

Wisconsin that I love in only a few short months our Governor has torn the people of Wisconsin apart, how sad for our country that we have a class war like no other. I respect the office of the Governor but sad to say I can not trust Governor Walker, for he is not for the people of Wisconsin and this showed during his months in office, he told untruths, the phone call that he thought he was speaking with the rich person who really got him in office, so many untruths were told by the GOP and our Governor in Wisconsin and how sad how very sad that our country is so divided now the GOP has made anyone working for the government horrible people, shouldn't it really rest on what really brought us to such high deficits in the first place, the banks and wall street... the wars .. now wall street is playing games with the gas price... our poor America and the everyone that holds office just looking at the next election, to destroy the middle class first....

Posted by: pcieslik | March 11, 2011 11:25 AM

All Wisconsin--no, all state and federal government employees should go on strike until all Republicans resign their offices.

Easy for me to say since I'm neither in Wisconsin nor a government employee.

Posted by: foofoofoo | March 11, 2011 11:24 AM

Unions use to be good for the people, years ago. Not anymore. Now, they are out for the money and the favors they can buy with the money. We paid top dollar to have union workers do some work on our office building. What a joke. After 3 months the vanity fell off the wall, the carpeting is coming up all over and don't let me tell you about the paint job! We hired non-union workers to fix their mess. The job they did was GREAT and the price was right. They even picked up after themselves at lunch! Not like the union guys who tossed their garbage anywhere they felt like, and left it for us to clean up after the pigs!

Posted by: bailey50 | March 11, 2011 11:23 AM

The whole thing was a union sham.

It was a nationally-fueled union effort with dummy protesters.

Then the louder they howled, the more the press reported on them and continued to pound Governor Walker.

Then, when they and the Democrats had trashed the governor sufficiently in the press and public, they took a poll!

And, low and behold, his approval rating had dropped a little! Exectly what they wanted to do. Duh.

Only the ignorant fall for this very old game.

Scott Walker will emerge more popular and respected than ever, because he acted like a LEADER and didn't stoop to rabble-rousing and public stunts and carried himself like an adult.

Posted by: FreedomFirst2 | March 11, 2011 11:19 AM

The 'you scratch my back I'll scratch yours' relationship between the public unions and the politicians is corrupt. It's why public employees make better wages, have better benefits, work fewer hours and have greater job security than their private counterparts.

The only loser in the scheme is the poor suckers that pay taxes. The public is working for the public servants.

Posted by: twann9852 | March 11, 2011 11:16 AM

Nothing has, in my lifetime (and I am pretty old), ever fired up the Democrat base like this has. Dems are slow, sluggish, and even act like dumbocrats at times. But when awaken... Look at it this way: Walker = Pearl Harbor Attack.

Posted by: crosseyedamerican | March 11, 2011 11:16 AM

Thanks Scott Walker for re-energizing the Wisconsin Democrats.

Posted by: bethh1 | March 11, 2011 11:14 AM

What Gov. Walker has achieved is the clear indication for the need for unions. It may take some time (until, if and when, the nation regains its sanity) the art of negotiation will be re-established. If not, we will continue to demonize anyone and everyone with whom we disagree until we replace our dysfunctional system with tribalism. If you listen closely, you can already hear the faint beating of drums.

Posted by: kycol2 | March 11, 2011 11:14 AM

The battle is being lost by the middle class and poor. We are seeing money flow up to the rich and ultra rich at the expense of the rest of us in this country. We will continue to see more and more middle class Americans slide into poverty as the repubs squeeze us dry for their rich overlords like the Hunt Brothers. The American Dream is quickly departing as we return to the early 1900's with abject poverty throughout the country.

Posted by: recj50 | March 11, 2011 11:11 AM

Having spent my entire adult life in the government sector dealing with public employee unions, I can empathize with the
governors who are attacking the current status quo. There are some undeniable facts:
1. The primary purpose of a union is to advance the well-being of its membership through collective action;
2. Management is the opposition, and at times must be forced through collective action to accede to union demands;
3. In the private sector, management reports to a Board of Directors, share holders, or the owner who are primarily concerned with the financial viability of the company;
4. In the public sector management reports to elected officials; ie., politicians.
5. Too often, politicians are beholden to those who contribute money to their campaigns and who can field support for their re-election.
6. Public unions therefore, devote substantial resources to financing and supporting the campaigns of polticians who are sympathetic to their causes and demands.
In other words, all too often, the unions are able to soften, if not control the management side of the bargaining table. Something not seen in the private sector.
This skews the bargaining process to the point that the general public's welfare can become secondary.
7. Moreover, because of their political power, often what unions can't get at the bargaining table, they often achieve through the passage of a law. For example, see the March 3 editorial in this paper about layoff in the public sector.
Turning this imbalance around is next to impossible because of political power exercised by public sector unions. Thus you see these types of political battles looming across the country. The fact that union leadership recognizes the fiscal problems and will "consider" changes rings hollow to those who deal with them. The Union leadership are politicians within their orbit - they can't afford to be viewed as soft and remain in office.
If there is a peaceful way to stike a proper balance between the power of public sector unions, and the interests of the general electorate, I would be very supportative. Unions have done much to improve the quality of life in our country. But no one has come up with it so far.

Posted by: lavieve | March 11, 2011 11:09 AM

HEBE wrote: "I am annoyed by the consistant villification of any politician that is republican by the media. It is incredibly juvenile and preys on the niave."

====================================

So how do you view the vilification by the right wing echo chamber of any Democratic politician? Not saying it's right for any media outlet to spin anything, but the lock-step right wing ideological talking points are just plain ridiculous. At least the mainstream media outlets provide huge amounts of different points of view. The clearview, right wing outlets ONLY say the same thing, showing the SAME imagery and talking points among the owned outlets, so no one watching or listening gets anything different than what right wing media wants you to get. It is exactly the same as communist "state owned" media belching propaganda.

Posted by: fmamstyle | March 11, 2011 11:03 AM

the taxpayers won? LOL. The only folks that won were the Koch brothers. This maneuver was not about fiscal responsibility, it was about a party passing legislation purely to remain in power. When a governing body starts acting in its own interests instead of those of the people, the people must take matters into their own hands... or so say you teapartiers, eh? YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW...

Posted by: ssergio | March 11, 2011 11:00 AM

Sure he won. What is politics if you don't burn a little of your political capital to get what you want? Furthermore, that's why you have terms in politics, so people can enact legislation that's not as subject to passing fads. (Which is why the "recall" votes is a bad idea, taken to extreme would mean laws would never become settled)

There's always a little hysteresis in politics. Maybe there will be a backlash but when that happens voters will have to make a positive vote for say, state collection of union dues rather than the passive acquiescence that goes on now even if people disagreed with that.

Posted by: jhtlag1 | March 11, 2011 10:57 AM

What is lacking in any of these comments is any idea of how to pay for the benefits. Pensions are expensive, in Germany a government pension starts at age 67, in Wisconsin public employees are eligible for a pension at age 57. The industrial base on Wisconsin is vastly eroded, steel, auto, and brewing industries have departed. The pain of payables exceeding receivables was only begun.

Posted by: joeO2 | March 11, 2011 10:56 AM

The taxpayers won.

Posted by: tina11 | March 11, 2011 10:56 AM

Governor Walker did win the battle. But now the war rages on. I guess time will tell if this victory was worth the casualty count in 2012 for the GOP.

Posted by: classicskins | March 11, 2011 10:55 AM

The Republicans think to impress people by claiming that public sector employees have better pensions and salaries than private sector employees. But the real lesson is for private sector employees to organize on their own behalf, as they did in the early 20th century. What Wisconsin needs right now is a general strike. Followed by recall of Republican legislators and the governor.

Posted by: troisieme | March 11, 2011 10:54 AM

Walker for President!! Get the Sopranos out of education.

Posted by: AForgottenMan | March 11, 2011 10:54 AM

Why did the Post select a picture of Governor Walker with his head turned down, looking depressed?

Posted by: RogerThatt | March 11, 2011 10:45 AM

The main loss in Wisconsin was for the Unions and Democrats.
Union members will now have to 1. pay more towards their health insurance and 2. pay a little bit towards their pension.

In return union members NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY DUES. The union can no longer force or collect dues.

That is why the democrats and unions are up in arms.

I am annoyed by the consistant villification of any politician that is republican by the media. It is incredibly juvenile and preys on the niave.

Posted by: hebe1 | March 11, 2011 10:44 AM

The true travesty of the Wisconsin debacle will be the State workers, teachers, etc. who will suffer as a result of Walker's political aims. May the recall efforts take hold!

Posted by: fairness3 | March 11, 2011 10:43 AM

In the long run the Republican desire to kill the New Deal will fail because their greed always, in the end, creates an underclass so abused that workers become willing to stand and fight. Think back, now, to the photographic record of the striking union members in the first half of the 20th Century, images that say it all. If you think the Republicans won't again create a new culture of robber-barons who have the rest of us living in hovels, then just consider Wall Street the last 10 years. And remember those pictures of striking union members who seized auto plants, and in some cases died, because they had been pushed too far be greed crazed Big Business.

Posted by: Patric2 | March 11, 2011 10:41 AM

Mr. Walker's political career is over.
His immaturity in handling a crisis
situation is fatal. Eventually, his "friends" in the GOP will distance
themselves from him. Like most politicians
they are of course cowards.
And that is the way it is.

Posted by: soren2 | March 11, 2011 10:40 AM

The class war, covert since Taft-Hartley, is now open. Clearly the Republicans and corporate America believe they can use their media empire, like FOX News and the Post, to continue to pit working people against each other, instead of the common enemy. They've already cannibalized what was once a thriving blue-collar middle class to divert ever more wealth to the idle rich, now they're starting on modestly-paid professionals like teachers and scientists. As they continue to attack the economic viability of the working class, they have opened another front by seeking to take away the voting rights of as many of the poor and middle class as possible. Doctors, Lawyers and Engineers: Are you paying attention? They're coming for you next, but when you cry for help, there will be no one left to help you.

Posted by: mcstowy | March 11, 2011 10:40 AM

The Wisconsin story is only part of a bigger story orchestrated by Karl Rove, the Kochs, and others, to punish Democratic constituencies as much as possible in key swing states between now and 2012, in order to deny the President a second term. Howard Fineman nailed this on MSNBC on Black Wednesday, and Senator Fitzgerald amazingly came right out and directly confirmed this strategy on Fox News yesterday. This strategy is at work in traditional swing states with newly elected GOP governors or legislative majorities, or both (e.g., Wisconsin). Other examples include Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylavania, and North Carolina, states the President carried in 2008, but which now have Republican control at the state level. Key parts of the strategy are: killing public sector unions because of their ability to raise Democratic campaign funds through heretofore automatic dues checkoffs, laying off large swaths of low wage state workers who traditionally vote Democratic (in North Carolina, the GOP legislature wants to cut all 18,000 teacher assistants in the public schools), and passing "voter integrity" laws that make it harder for traditional Democratic constituencies to vote (going on in North Carolina and elsewhere). Democratic and union leaders need to wake up and realize that this is not about policy choices or deficits or anything to do with actually governing; it is simply a scorched earth campaign in swing states who voted for Obama in 2008, and are unlucky enough to have fallen for the GOP "jobs,jobs,jobs" lie during the midterms. In classic Rovian style, this is all about using the mechanisms of govenment to economically punish and demoralize key constituencies of the opposing party, while also making the simple act of voting more difficult and intimidating to the most vulnerable citizens. My daily prayer is that the good people of this country will continue to awaken as they have in Wisconsin, and take up the long, hard struggle of taking our country back from these shills for the ultra-rich and the multinational corporations (that no longer need an American middle class to reap huge profits in developing countries). May God bless the United States of America and her people! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Posted by: prairiepopulist1 | March 11, 2011 10:37 AM

Not only have been motivated to come out against him, the Republican party has taken a huge hit in credibility. The Democrats actually stood up for the people taking a huge political risk, something totally unbelievable in my lifetime.

I think nationally people might not get the strength of the resolve against these measures. It is very tiring and inconvenient to go "protesting". Obviously, people who like to be active are attracted to this, but the huge majority are people who have other things to do with their time.

It is becoming clearer that Walker does not care about Wisconsin, he is cutting all sorts of programs to help poor people, seniors and health care for kids at the same time he is attacking education.

Posted by: georgia198305 | March 11, 2011 10:35 AM

Republicans in WI will find out just like white america did in th 60s,you're not the superman you think you are!